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Scotlandshire

Scotlandshire is a term used to denote either the anglicisation of Scotland or the subordinate political relationship with England that some perceive Scotland as having. It is recorded as early as 1706 in James Hodges' anti-Union Third Treatise.

By placing the suffix - shire after the country's name, the term attempts to parody the early modern tendency to place the word - shire after some ancient Scottish regions, as well as implicating in a tongue-in-cheek manner that Scotland has the status of an English county, rather than that of a distinct nation. Hence, the term is political in nature.

Several historic regions of Scotland have at times had the suffix -shire added when Scotland broadly adopted English-style county councils during the 19th Century.

  • Argyll - Argyllshire
  • Moray - Morayshire (or Elginshire)
  • Ross - Ross-shire
  • Fife - Fifeshire
  • Sutherland - Sutherlandshire