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As-salamu ´alaykum,

Imam An-Nawawi (rahmatuLlahi ´alayh) talked of the 5 madhahhib, Maliki, Hanafi, Shafi’i, Hanbali and Thawri (that of Abu Thawr). Some ´ulama mentioned the madhhab of Abu Thawr while leaving out for example that of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. So the talk of the 4 was not always the case. But they are the ones that lasted through time due to various reasons. Some being that ´ulama found the others superior, but also due to political alliances and what not. But there was also the madhhab of Sufyan Al-Thawri, and Layth bin Sa'd, Awza’i, Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, who were mainly replaced by the Shafi'i school. There were many other Mujtahids who could have had schools, but due to various reasons.

As for the Dhahiri “madhhab”, well it was known for two things: 1) Anti-Qiyas, 2) Anti-Taqlid. Because of this second point, it could never flourish and become a madhhab in the sense we know it today.

wassalam