What does Cheshire mean?

The name Cheshire derives from the Old English words "ceaster", meaning "Roman fort", and "scyre", meaning "shire" or "county". It was originally used to refer to the Roman fortress of Deva (modern-day Chester), which was the administrative centre of the county of Cheshire in medieval times. The county's name is thought to have been influenced by the presence of the River Dee, which flows through the area and was known as the "Ceaster".