Who Has Won the Most County Championship Titles?

In English domestic cricket, there is no greater badge of honour than the County Championship. It is the competition that has shaped the red-ball traditions of the game in England and Wales since 1890, and the honours board is a chronicle of dominance, decline, and revival across 18 first-class counties.

When people talk about “the most titles,” it’s not just a statistic. It represents more than a century of club culture, the ability to nurture talent, and the resilience needed to triumph in the long grind of a first-class season. A county’s tally of Championships reflects its place in cricket history, and winning consistently is a statement of both sporting strength and regional pride.

Yorkshire sits at the top of the pile, their record untouchable for now. Surrey are the closest challengers, enjoying a modern resurgence. Other counties — from Lancashire to Middlesex — have had their moments of glory. This article takes a closer look at the counties with the heaviest trophy cabinets, when they were at their strongest, and what the numbers say about the competitive heartbeat of county cricket.

County Championship Titles by County (to end of 2024 season)

Yorkshire: The Most Successful County

No discussion of the County Championship winners list can begin without Yorkshire. With 32 outright titles and one shared crown, their total of 33 Championships remains the gold standard. For decades, Yorkshire were the county to beat, and their dominance shaped the reputation of the competition itself.

Their great eras came in waves. In the early 20th century, powered by players like Wilfred Rhodes and George Hirst, Yorkshire became almost unbeatable. Between 1900 and 1925 they captured the title 12 times, establishing a reputation for relentless professionalism. The inter-war period reinforced that supremacy, as Herbert Sutcliffe and Len Hutton emerged as icons of both county and country.

The post-war years brought another surge. From 1959 to 1968, Yorkshire won seven titles in ten years, a golden run under the leadership of Brian Close. The team combined gritty batting with powerful bowling line-ups, building a culture of uncompromising cricket that kept them ahead of the rest.

Even as formats changed and divisions split the competition, Yorkshire’s history has given them a unique aura. Players raised in Headingley or elsewhere in the county carry that tradition with them, and every modern title challenge is framed against the weight of their past glories.

Surrey: Close Pursuer

While Yorkshire boast the most County Championship titles, Surrey are the most consistent challengers, with 22 outright victories and one shared, bringing them to 23 in total. Surrey’s story is one of peaks rather than long, uninterrupted supremacy, but their peaks have been spectacular.

The 1950s were Surrey’s decade. Between 1952 and 1958, they won the Championship seven years in a row, a record run that has never been matched. Captains like Stuart Surridge marshalled squads that blended batting strength with the guile of bowlers such as Alec Bedser, making The Oval a fortress.

Surrey’s modern era is just as impressive. Their current squad, filled with international names and a thriving academy system, has delivered titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024, creating a new dynasty. They have become the standard-bearers of the 21st century, and their financial clout and depth of resources give them an edge few counties can rival.

The ongoing 2025 season has them locked in another title battle, and while Yorkshire still lead the all-time tally, Surrey’s ability to dominate the present is impossible to ignore.

Other Notable Counties with High Title Counts

While Yorkshire and Surrey stand apart, several other counties have carved out proud histories in the Championship.

• Middlesex: With 11 titles and two shared, Middlesex enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and 1980s. Stars such as Mike Gatting, John Emburey, and Phil Edmonds helped build teams that were hard to beat. Lord’s, their home ground, added prestige to their triumphs.

• Lancashire: Once Yorkshire’s fiercest rivals in the Roses rivalry, Lancashire have nine outright titles and five shared. Their early 20th-century sides were formidable, and while recent years have brought near-misses rather than silverware, they remain a competitive force.

• Essex: A relatively late bloomer, Essex won their first title in 1979 and have now secured eight Championships, most recently in 2019. The leadership of Graham Gooch and, later, Alastair Cook has anchored their success.

• Warwickshire: With eight wins, Warwickshire’s high points include a memorable double in 1994 under Dermot Reeve, when they won the Championship alongside one-day titles.

• Kent and Nottinghamshire: Both have had their spells of strength, with six titles apiece. Nottinghamshire’s success in the 1980s and 2000s came with teams stacked with international quality.

These counties may not rival Yorkshire or Surrey in sheer numbers, but each has shaped distinct eras in which they were the benchmark for consistency and excellence.

Shared Titles & Unique Cases

In the Championship’s long history, outright winners have occasionally been impossible to determine. In those seasons, titles were shared, adding quirks to the honours board.

For instance, in 1949, Yorkshire and Middlesex shared the crown, while in 1950, Surrey and Lancashire were joint champions. Shared titles usually came from seasons where rain and scheduling left little room for separation, or when the points system did not provide a decisive outcome.

Though they count in official tallies, shared wins often feel less celebrated. Still, they remain part of the story, reminding us that cricket, unlike many sports, must contend with the elements as much as the opposition.

Trends Over Time: When Did Most Titles Happen?

Patterns in the Championship reveal much about county strength across eras.

• Yorkshire’s dominance was clearest in the early 20th century and again in the 1960s, when they set standards few could approach. Their tally is built on decades of being the most organised and talent-rich county.

• Surrey’s 1950s streak stands as perhaps the most concentrated period of success, their seven consecutive titles creating a dynasty unmatched in cricket history.

• Middlesex and Warwickshire thrived in the late 20th century, showing that the competition was never a two-horse race.

• Essex and Nottinghamshire’s modern runs highlight how the Championship has remained competitive. Essex, in particular, have emerged as a dominant force in the 21st century despite not having the historical weight of Yorkshire or Surrey.

Changes in the format — such as the introduction of two divisions in 2000 — have also spread opportunities. Winning repeatedly has become harder, making Surrey’s recent three-peat even more impressive.

What Contributes to Winning Many Titles

So why do some counties rack up more Championships than others? A few key factors stand out:

• Infrastructure: Strong county clubs with financial stability can sustain high-quality squads and facilities. Surrey, with The Oval’s resources, are a prime example.

• Talent pools: Yorkshire have long benefitted from a deep well of local cricketing talent, feeding their dominance.

• Coaching and culture: Counties with clear coaching philosophies and player pathways have been better able to translate potential into titles.

• Home ground advantage: Some venues, like Headingley or Old Trafford, provide conditions that develop specific strengths, such as fast bowling, which then translate into success.

Winning repeatedly is rarely an accident; it reflects deep structures that keep producing competitive squads across generations.

Why the Top Two (Yorkshire & Surrey) Still Stand Out

Although several counties have enjoyed success, Yorkshire and Surrey remain the twin giants. Yorkshire’s record speaks of history, tradition, and longevity. Surrey’s modern dominance shows adaptability and strength in today’s era of divided formats and heavy schedules.

Both counties command respect not just for the number of titles they’ve won, but for how their successes have shaped the broader narrative of English cricket. Young players dream of lifting Championships in white roses or brown caps, because those achievements connect them to generations of legends.

Current Landscape & Can Anyone Catch Up?

Yorkshire’s 33 titles keep them comfortably ahead, while Surrey’s 23 put them in second. Beyond these two, the nearest challengers are Middlesex (11) and Lancashire (9 outright), a gap that looks almost impossible to bridge quickly.

Surrey’s recent surge suggests they could narrow the margin in coming decades, especially with their academy and financial resources. Yorkshire, meanwhile, will need to rekindle their golden eras to maintain distance. Essex, Warwickshire, and Nottinghamshire have the capacity for occasional wins, but catching the top two seems unlikely in the short term.

Conclusion: What the Title Count Says About English County Cricket

The County Championship is not just a competition — it’s a living history of English cricket. When we ask “Who has the most County Championship titles?” the answer is clear: Yorkshire lead with 33, trailed by Surrey on 23. Those numbers reflect more than success on the field; they embody tradition, regional strength, and the ability to adapt to changing eras.

Surrey’s modern revival shows that dominance is not confined to the past, while Yorkshire’s legacy remains the benchmark. Together, they remind us that in county cricket, titles are not simply trophies — they are chapters in a story stretching back more than 130 years.