The High Sheriff of Berkshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon

Anglo-Saxons

Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...

 times. The word Sheriff evolved from 'shire-reeve'.

The title of High Sheriff is therefore much older than the other crown appointment, the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire

Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire

This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. Since 1689, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Berkshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Berkshire:*Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset 1551 – 22 January 1552...

, which came about after 1545. Between 1248 and 1566 Berkshire and Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....

 formed a joint shrievalty (apart from a brief period in 1258/9). See High Sheriff of Oxfordshire.

Unlike the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire

Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire

This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. Since 1689, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Berkshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Berkshire:*Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset 1551 – 22 January 1552...

, which is generally held from appointment until the holder's death or incapacity, the title of High Sheriff is appointed / reappointed annually. The High Sheriff is assisted by an Under-Sheriff of Berkshire.

List of High Sheriffs of Berkshire

• Before 1066: Godric
  Godric the Sheriff
  Godric was the Anglo Saxon sheriff of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire in the 11th century prior to the Norman Conquest.As a sheriff, he had the powers of arrest, he could raise armies, collect taxes and levies, and he presided over courts, dealt with traitors and generally supervised on the King’s...
  
  , first recorded Sheriff of Berkshire (killed 1066)
• Soon after 1066 Froger
• after 1066 Henry de Ferrers
  Henry de Ferrers
  Henry de Ferrers was a Norman soldier from a noble family who took part in the conquest of England and is believed to have fought at the Battle of Hastings of 1066 and, in consequence, was rewarded with much land in the subdued nation.His elder brother William fell in the battle. William and Henri...
  
  
• 1071: Robert D'Oyly
  Robert D'Oyly
  Robert D'Oyly was a Norman nobleman who accompanied William the Conqueror on the Norman Conquest, his invasion of England. He died in 1091.-Background:Robert was the son of Walter D'Oyly and elder brother to Nigel D'Oyly...
  
  
• 1086: Aiulf
• 1094: Gilbert de Bretville
• 1097: Hugh of Buckland
• 1105: Aubrey de Vere
  Aubrey de Vere I
  Aubrey de Vere was a tenant-in-chief of William the Conqueror in 1086 and also vassal to Geoffrey de Montbray, bishop of Coutances and to Count Alan, lord of Richmond. A much later source named his father as Alphonsus...
  
  
• 1110: Hugh of Buckland
• 1112: Alfred
• 1118: Ralph
• 1119: William de Buckland
• 1126: John Belet
• 1126: Baldwin FitzClarus
• 1129: Anselm, Vicount of Rouen
• 1130: William de Pont de l'Arche
• 1153: Henry de Oxford
• 1154: Jordan de Podiis
• 1154: Henry de Oxford
• 1155: Richard de Camville
• 1156: Adam the Sheriff (probably Adam de Catmore)Catmore
• 1157: Gilbert de Pinkney
• 1160: Adam de Catmore
• 1170: Hugh de Buckland
• 1176: Hugh de St German
• 1186-1189 Roger fitzReinfrid
  Roger fitzReinfrid
  Roger fitzReinfrid was a medieval English sheriff and royal justice.Roger was the brother of Walter de Coutances, who was Archbishop of Rouen from 1184 to 1207. Another relative was John of Coutances, who was either the brother of Walter and Roger, or their nephew. John went on to become Bishop of...
  
  
• 1189: Robert de la Mare
• 1190: William Brewer
  William Brewer (justice)
  William Brewer was a prominent administrator and justice in England during the reigns of Richard I, King John, and Henry III...
  
  
• 1193: William Brewer
  William Brewer (justice)
  William Brewer was a prominent administrator and justice in England during the reigns of Richard I, King John, and Henry III...
  
   and Philip FitzRobert
• 1194: Philip FitzRobert
• 1195: Philip FitzRobert
• 1197: Stephen of Thornham
  Stephen of Thornham
  Stephen of Thornham was a British justice and administrator. He was the son of Robert of Thornham, a Kentish landowner, and the older brother of Robert of Thornham, and first came to official attention in 1170 when, along with his father, he acted as a benefactor to Combwell Priory...
  
  
• 1199: Nicholas de Kennet
• 1200: Fulk de Cantilupe
• 1201: William Brewer
  William Brewer (justice)
  William Brewer was a prominent administrator and justice in England during the reigns of Richard I, King John, and Henry III...
  
  
• 1202: Hubert de Burgh
• 1202: John de Wiggenholt
• 1204: John de Wiggenholt
• 1217: Richard (later Earl of Cornwall)
  Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
  Richard of Cornwall was Count of Poitou , 1st Earl of Cornwall and German King...
  
  
• 1220: Henry de Scaccario
• 1226: Hugh le Despenser I
  Hugh le Despenser I
  Sir Hugh le Despenser was a wealthy landowner in the East Midlands of England, and served as High Sheriff of Berkshire.He was probably the son of a Thomas Despencer, and brother to both Thomas, who died before October 1218, and Rohaise, who married Stephen de Segrave. It is said that he married a...
  
  
• 1226: Hugh de Bathona
• 1227: Philip d'Aubigny
• 1229: Henry de Scaccario
• 1232: Alexander de Swerford, Archdeacon of Shropshire
• 1232: John Bonet
• 1232: Peter de Rivaux
  Peter de Rivaux
  Peter de Rivaux or Peter de Rivalis was an influential Poitevin courtier at the court of Henry III of England. He was related to Peter des Roches, being a nephew ....
  
  
• 1232: Robert de Mapledurham
• 1233: William de Culworth
• 1234: Robert de Mapledurham
• 1234: Engelard de Cigogné
  Engelard de Cigogné
  Engelard de Cigogné was a 13th century Norman French-born administrator serving King John of England.He was born in France, a relative of Gérard d'Athée, a trusted lieutenant of King John. John arranged for Gerard and his relatives to follow him to England in 1207. Engelard was appointed High...
  
  
• 1236: Robert Brend
• 1237: Simon de Lewknor
• 1238: Hugh le Despenser I
  Hugh le Despenser I
  Sir Hugh le Despenser was a wealthy landowner in the East Midlands of England, and served as High Sheriff of Berkshire.He was probably the son of a Thomas Despencer, and brother to both Thomas, who died before October 1218, and Rohaise, who married Stephen de Segrave. It is said that he married a...
  
  
• 1244: Nicholas or Alan de Farnham

1248-1566 (jointly with Oxfordshire)

1567–1599

1600–1699

1700–1799

1800–1899

1900–1999

2000–present

• 2000: James Henry Lavallin Puxley of Welford Park
  Welford Park
  Welford Park is a country house and estate in the village of Welford, near the town of Newbury in the English county of Berkshire. Whilst of some historical significance, the estate is perhaps best known for its displays of Snowdrops in early Spring....
  
  
• 2002: Timothy Dawson
• 2003: Malcolm Kimmins
• 2004: Anthony West
• 2005 Mary Bayliss
• 2006: John Hugh Miller
• 2007: Henry Merton Henderson of West Woodhay House
• 2008: Dr Carolyn Jane Boulter
• 2009: Dr Christina Bernadette Thérèse Hill Williams
• 2010: Lady Catherine May Stevenson
• 2011: Robert Barclay Woods CBE of Frilsham

External links

• Berkshire: the Royal County at Berkshire Record Office
  Berkshire Record Office
  The Berkshire Record Office is the county record office for Berkshire, England. It is located in Reading. The Berkshire Record Office opened on 10 August 1948.-Further reading:...
  
  website.