CUMBRIA, an ancient kingdom of Romanized Britons, extending from the Lake country in England to Loch-Lomond in Scotland. It was formed at the withdrawal of the Romans; it had for a sovereign, from about 508 to about 542. some extraordinary original, who figures in romantic story as King Arthur; and it became annexed, toward the end of the tenth century, partly to the Crown of Scotland, partly to that of England.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))