County vs. Duchy — What's the Difference?

A county is a geographical region of a country used for administrative or other purposes in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French conté or cunté denoting a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count (earl) or a viscount.

A duchy, also called a dukedom, is a medieval country, territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess, a high-ranking nobleman hierarchically second to the king or queen in European tradition. The term is used almost exclusively in Europe.

The largest administrative division of most states in the United States.

The territory ruled by a duke or duchess; a dukedom.

A territorial division exercising administrative, judicial, and political functions in Great Britain and Ireland.

A dominion or region ruled by a duke or duchess.

The territory under the jurisdiction of a count or earl.

The territory or dominions of a duke; a dukedom.

The people living in a county.

The domain controlled by a duke or duchess

An administrative region of various countries, including Bhutan, Canada, China, Croatia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and 48 of the 50 United States (excluding Alaska and Louisiana).

A definitive geographic region, without direct administrative functions.

A jail operated by a county government.

(historical) The land ruled by a count or a countess.

Characteristic of a ‘county family’; representative of the gentry or aristocracy of a county.

An earldom; the domain of a count or earl.

A circuit or particular portion of a state or kingdom, separated from the rest of the territory, for certain purposes in the administration of justice and public affairs; - called also a shire. See Shire.

A count; an earl or lord.

A region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government;

The largest administrative district within a state;