This is a list of the sheriffs and high sheriffs of Staffordshire.
The sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. The sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. From 1204 to 1344 the High Sheriff of Staffordshire also served as Sheriff of Shropshire.
Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as sheriff was retitled high sheriff. The high sheriff changes every March.
Sheriffs
11th century
- 1086: Robert de Stafford
- 1094: Nicholas de Stafford
12th century
13th century
14th century
15th century
16th century
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
High sheriffs
20th century
21st century
References
- London Gazette
- Collins, Arthur; Brydges, Sir Egerton (1812), Collins's peerage of England; genealogical, biographical, and historical, vol. 7, London: F.C. and J. Rivington, Otridge and Son etc., p. 400
- Erdeswicke, Sampson; Harwood, Thomas (1820), A Survey of Staffordshire; Containing the Antiquities of that County Erdeswick and Harwood, J.B. Nichols and Son
- History of Staffordshire from British History Online
- Burke, John (1833), A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire, vol. 1 (4th ed.), H. Colburn, p. 546
- Burke, John; Burke, Sir Bernard, eds. (1844), A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England Ireland and Scotland, vol. 1 (2nd ed.), p. 406
- Burke, John (1835), A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank; but uninvested with heritable honour, vol. 1, London, H. Colburn
- volume 2 (1835)
- volume 3 (1835)
- volume 4 (1835)
- Shaw, William Arthur (1906), The Knights of England: A complete record from the earliest time to the present day of the knights of all the orders of chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of knights bachelors, incorporating a complete list of knights bachelors dubbed in Ireland, vol. 2, London: Sherratt and Hughes, p. 24
- Staffordshire Record Society (1912), "Sheriffs of Staffordshire 1086–1912", Collections for a history of Staffordshire, vol. 12, Kendal, Eng., etc., pp. 272–294
