<P> The historic counties of Yorkshire, Cumberland, Westmorland, Huntingdonshire and Middlesex are the five defunct ceremonial counties of a traditional county size . After their ceremonial abolition, Yorkshire has become ceremonially subdivided along the four compass point axes, Cumberland and Westmorland were added to a detached part of Lancashire to form Cumbria, Huntingdonshire merged ceremonially into Cambridgeshire and the vast majority of Middlesex became part of Greater London . </P> <P> Contemporary reference to the Isle of Ely and nearby Soke of Peterborough is very rare since the early 20th century and they have scant public resonance . The counties marked in italics below are neither ceremonial nor historic . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> County </Th> <Th> Current ceremonial </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> 1974 + </Th> <Th> Postal 1974--1996 </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> 1889--1974 </Th> <Th> Before 1889 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Metropolitan </Th> <Th> Non-metropolitan </Th> <Th> County </Th> <Th> Administrative </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Avon </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1974--1996 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bedfordshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1974--2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Berkshire ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> City of Bristol </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Special post town </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> County borough </Td> <Td> County corporate </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Buckinghamshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cambridgeshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1889--1965 </Td> <Td> 1889--1965 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1965--1974 </Td> <Td> 1965--1974 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cheshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1974--2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cleveland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1974--1996 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cornwall </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cumberland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cumbria </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Derbyshire ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Devon </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dorset </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Durham (County Durham) ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> East Suffolk ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> East Sussex </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Essex </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gloucestershire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greater London </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> County </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1965--1974 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greater Manchester </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hampshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hereford and Worcester ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1974--1998 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Herefordshire ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UA 1998 + </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hertfordshire ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Humberside </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1974--1996 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Huntingdon and Peterborough </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1965--1974 </Td> <Td> 1965--1974 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Huntingdonshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1889--1965 </Td> <Td> 1889--1965 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Isle of Ely </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1889--1965 </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Isle of Wight </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1890--1974 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kent </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lancashire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Leicestershire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lincolnshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lincolnshire, Parts of Holland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lincolnshire, Parts of Kesteven </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lincolnshire, Parts of Lindsey </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> London ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Special post town </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> The Metropolis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> City of London ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> County corporate </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Merseyside </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Middlesex </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Norfolk ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Northamptonshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Northumberland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Humberside </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Yorkshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nottinghamshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oxfordshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Soke of Peterborough </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1889--1965 </Td> <Td> Liberty </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rutland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UA 1997 + </Td> <Td> 2008 + </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Shropshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Somerset </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Humberside </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Yorkshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Staffordshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Suffolk ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Surrey </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sussex </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tyne and Wear </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Warwickshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Midlands </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Westmorland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Suffolk ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Sussex </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Yorkshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wiltshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Worcestershire ♠ </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1998 + </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Yorkshire </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Yorkshire, East Riding </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UA 1996 + </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Yorkshire, North Riding </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Yorkshire, West Riding </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Division </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> County </Th> <Th> Current ceremonial </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> 1974 + </Th> <Th> Postal 1974--1996 </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> 1889--1974 </Th> <Th> Before 1889 </Th> </Tr>

Similarly if you listed the current counties of england in alphabetical order which would come first