This is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire, who should not be confused with the Sheriffs of the City of Gloucester.
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown (in England and Wales the office previously known as sheriff was retitled High Sheriff on 1 April 1974). Formerly 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 the High Sheriff's functions are now largely ceremonial. The High Sheriff changes every March.
As of 2006, the Sheriff's territory or bailiwick is covered by the administrative areas of Gloucestershire County Council and of South Gloucestershire District Council. Sir Robert Atkyns, the historian of Gloucester, writing in 1712 stated that no family had produced more Sheriffs of this county than Denys.Atkyns, Sir Robert. The Ancient & Present State of Gloucester, 1712.
Sheriffs
11th and 12th centuries 1071–c. 1082: Roger de Pitres (Roger of Gloucester)W.A. Morris, 'The Office of Sheriff in the Early Norman Period', The English Historical Review, Vol. 33, No. 130 (Apr. 1918), p. 154 note 2 c. 1082–1096 Durand of Gloucester (brother of Roger, died 1096) 1097–1121 Walter de Gloucester (nephew of Durand, son of Roger, retired bef. 1129 to become monk) 1121–c. 1129: Miles FitzWalter de Gloucester (son of Walter, died 1143)George Edward Cokayne, The Complete Peerage; or, a History of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, Vol. VI, ed. H. A. Doubleday & Howard de Walden (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1926), pp. 451–2 ?–1155: Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford (son of Miles, died 1155)George Edward Cokayne, The Complete Peerage; or, a History of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, Vol. VI, ed. H. A. Doubleday & Howard de Walden (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1926), p. 454 1155–1157: Walter de Hereford (brother of Roger, died c.1159 on crusade) 1157–1163: William de Beauchamp 1164–1167: William Pypard 1168–1171: Gilbert Pypard 1171–1175: Ralph fitzStephen (Rad'us (Ralph) son of Stephen) 1175–1189: William fitzStephen (William son of Stephen) 1190–1195 William Marescallus (William Marshall) 1196–1199: Herbert son of Herbert
13th century
14th century
15th century
16th century
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
High Sheriffs
20th century
21st century
References The history of the worthies of England, Volume 1 By Thomas Fuller
External links Trans. Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society 128 (2010), 207–227 by CHRISTOPHER ELRINGTON List of Sheriffs of Gloucestershire