After the Normans had won some parts of the country, as one lord's dominion, they constituted in that place a "Senescal," or steward, which was called in the British tongue "Swyddog," that is an officer; and the lordship of which he was the steward, was called "Swydd," or office; and of these Swyddev were made "Shires," many centuries before the conquest, or the Saxon dominancy.  Gwyddthen is an office, whether great or small, and Swyddog is an officer likewise, of all states, as a Sheriff is a Swyddog; his office, and the shire over which he presides, are both denominated Swydd, so that a sheriff as Swydd, Amwthig, is the shire, and also the office of the steward. (History and Antiquities of Nottingham, Orange, 1840)