The sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. 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 its functions are now largely ceremonial. The sheriff changes every April.
The post of Sheriff of Cumberland existed from the creation of the county in the twelfth century up until 1974 when the administrative and ceremonial or geographic county of Cumberland became part of Cumbria.
List of sheriffs
Sheriffs of Cumberland have included:
1100–1199
1200–1299
1300–1399
1400–1499
1500–1599
1600–1699
1700–1799
1800–1899
1900–1973
References The History of the Worthies of England Volume 1
Bibliography (with amendments of 1963, Public Record Office)