The counties of Englan are territorial divisions of England for the purposes of administrative, political and geographical demarcation. Many current counties have foundations in older divisions such as the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The name county originates in the area formerly or nominally administered by a Count, although in Britain the situation is complicated by the fact that the title Count has been replaced in normal usage by the older Saxon title of Earl. An Earl's wife, however, bears the title of Countess.