Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county located in the East of England. It is known for its rich history, beautiful landscapes, and significant contributions to academia and industry. Cambridgeshire is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west.^[1] The county covers an area of approximately 3,387 square kilometers (1,308 square miles).^[2] The administrative county covers a much larger area than the ancient shire, or historic county. Formed in 1974, the administrative county incorporates almost all of the historic county of Cambridgeshire and most of the historic county of Huntingdonshire (which is nearly coterminous with the district of the same name).^[2] The largest settlement in Cambridgeshire is the city of Peterborough, while the county town is Cambridge.^[2] The administrative county of Cambridgeshire comprises five districts—East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, and the city of Cambridge—and incorporates a small area, around Great Chishill, that belongs to the historic county of Essex The geographic county encompasses the entire administrative county as well as the unitary authority of Peterborough. Cambridge serves as the county town (seat).^[3]

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Cambridgeshire: landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractionsCambridgeshire: landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractions

Cambridgeshire’s landscape is diverse.^[4] The Fens is an extremely flat, low-lying area in the north and east, characterized by drained marshland maintained by ditches and dykes. The Chalk Hills are found in the south and form part of the Chiltern Hills. The Cambridgeshire countryside is traversed by major rivers such as the River Nene and the Great Ouse, which contribute to its fertile lands. Cambridgeshire has a varied economy with key industries^[5]. The largest sectors in the county are professional, scientific, and technical activities . Manufacturing in Peterborough has seen significant growth in engineering industries.^[6] Based on the total number of jobs, the largest industry in Cambridgeshire is Professional, scientific and technical activities. Other major industries include Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles, Education, Human Health And Social Work Activities.^[6]

Agriculture is historically significant in Cambridgeshire, with modern-day crop specialization and horticulture.^[7] Cambridgeshire is situated in one of the most fertile areas of the UK.^[8] The Eastern region is home to a world-leading cluster of farmers, scientists, innovators, technologists and entrepreneurs working at the forefront of cropscience to find solutions to the world's major challenges of food security and climate change.^[9] In the 19th century, Cambridgeshire was known for coprolite mining,^[10] which involved extracting fossilized dinosaur excrement to be used as fertilizer. This industry was particularly active between the 1850s and 1890s. The county is further known for:

Cereal crops which are grown on the chalky eastern rim.
Vegetables and fruits are grown particularly in the Fens and around Wisbech.
Sugar beets: Processed in Ely.

Cambridgeshire boasts numerous attractions, including: Ely Cathedral: a stunning example of medieval architecture, Fitzwilliam Museum: located in Cambridge, it houses a vast collection of art and antiquities, the Imperial War Museum Duxford: Europe’s largest air museum, and punting on the River Cam: A popular activity in Cambridge.

Cambridgeshire historyCambridgeshire history

Cambridgeshire has a rich prehistoric heritage, with evidence of human activity dating back to the Stone Age.^[11] Archaeological finds from the Bronze Age and Iron Age have been discovered, particularly in East Cambridgeshire. The Fens, a marshy region, were inhabited and utilized by early settlers.^[12]

The Romans occupied Cambridgeshire from AD 43 to the early 5th century.^[13] The Cam valley was heavily settled, and the Romans began the drainage of the Fens.^[14] Remains of Roman towns, such as the one near Great Staughton, reveal extensive streets and buildings.^[15] Cambridge itself became a small Roman town with defensive walls.^[16]

The Anglo-Saxons began settling in Cambridgeshire in the 5th century.^[17] Groups of Angles established themselves in the fen-district, and they became known as the Gyrwas.^[18] The area was part of the Danelaw in the 9th century and saw significant Danish influence. Cambridge was burned during Danish invasions but later became part of East Anglia.^[19]

In the 18th century, Cambridgeshire saw the cultivation of saffron^[20] and the manufacture of paper^[21] near Sturbridge. Sturbridge Fair, one of the largest in Europe, was a significant event, dealing in wool, hops, and leather.^[22] Cambridge continued to develop, with the construction of Shire Hall in 1747 and a new Guildhall in 1782.^[23]

The 19th century brought rapid expansion to Cambridge, driven by increased life expectancy and improved agricultural production.^[24] The county’s administrative structure included 17 hundreds, each with its own council.^[25] The University of Cambridge continued to grow, contributing to the city’s development.^[26]

Today, Cambridgeshire is an administrative, geographic, and historic county in eastern England. It includes the historic counties of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, as well as the Isle of Ely.^[2] The county has seen population growth and development, with Cambridge serving as the county town.^[2]

County parishes and unparished areasCounty parishes and unparished areas

Cambridgeshire County Council as the ‘upper-tier’ local authority for the county provides services across the five districts, or 'lower-tier' areas of Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire.^[3] At the local level of government Cambridgeshire has 266 civil parishes and five districts.^[27] Cambridgeshire has more than 300 churches and chapels of historic and architectural interest. They span over a thousand years from the Saxon period at Great Paxton to the High Victorian at Waresley and the 20th century at the Good Shepherd, Arbury.^[28] The city of Cambridge is the only unparished area in Cambridgeshire.^[29]

County geographyCounty geography

Cambridgeshire offers a mix of rural landscapes, historical sites, and a vibrant university city. The county is known for its flat landscape, particularly in the Fens area, which is a drained marshland maintained by drainage ditches and dykes. The Isle of Ely is a notable area within the Fens, known for its slightly elevated terrain. The county is crossed by two major rivers: the Nene and the Great Ouse, with the Cam being a tributary of the Great Ouse.^[2]

The largest settlements in Cambridgeshire are the city of Peterborough in the north-west and the city of Cambridge in the south, which is also the county town.^[30] The landscape in the south and west of the county is gently undulating, providing a contrast to the flatness of the Fens.^[2]

Research family history in CambridgeshireResearch family history in Cambridgeshire

The Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies holds a wealth of unique historic records and other resources relating to Cambridgeshire, the former counties of Huntingdonshire and the Isle of Ely and their communities.^[31] The Cambridgeshire Archives also has an online catalog containing descriptions of over half a million documents. Huntingdonshire Archives holds a wealth of unique historic records and other resources relating to the former county of Huntingdonshire. The Cambridgeshire Collection is based on the third floor of Cambridge Central Library and has over 80,000 items of city and village histories. The Cambridge University Library has a wide range of material, from important medieval manuscripts to collections of personal papers dating from the twentieth century. Here is link to an extensive list of local and family history societies.

Ethnicities in CambridgeshireEthnicities in Cambridgeshire

The ethnicities in Cambridgeshire are as follows:^[32]

Cambridgeshire as a whole has a population that is 88.6% White in 2021. In the more rural district areas, the proportion who are white is higher – from 89.1% in South Cambridgeshire to 95.9% in Fenland. In both Cambridge and Peterborough, the next largest broad ethnic group in the population are Asian or Asian British (14.3% in Peterborough, 14.8% in Cambridge, compared to 9.6% in England as a whole). Elsewhere, the population identifying as Asian or Asian British is quite low. The overall figure for Cambridgeshire is 5.8% from an Asian background (ranging from 1.1% in Fenland to 5.8% in South Cambridgeshire and 14.8% in Cambridge) but for England as a whole it is 9.6%. Within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area the percentage of the population who identify as Black, Black British, Caribbean or African varies from 0.8% in both East Cambridgeshire and Fenland to 4.1% in Peterborough. Overall, the proportion of people from a broadly Black ethnicity is lower in Cambridgeshire (1.4%) and Peterborough (4.1%) than in England as a whole (4.2%). Across our area the percentage of the population who identify as Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups varies from 1.4% in Fenland to 5.1% in Cambridge. This compares to 3.0% of the population in England.

Surnames in CambridgeshireSurnames in Cambridgeshire

The demographic distribution of English surnames is as follows:^[33]

Surnames	Incidence	Frequency
Smith	10,407	1:81
Brown	5,110	1:164
Taylor	4,218	1:199
Jones	4,040	1:207
Wilson	3,340	1:251
Wright	3,243	1:258
Johnson	2,957	1:283
Williams	2,880	1:291
Clarke	2,559	1:327
King	2,461	1:340

Explore more about English countiesExplore more about English counties

MyHeritage.com has 351 collections that contain millions of English records that cover a huge variety of genealogical historical events that can help you find your ancestors. The MyHeritage Knowledge Base contains helpful information about genealogical research. The Legacy Family Tree Webinars website contains more than 2000 valuable genealogical webinars including over 50 webinars about English research.

References

[1] Counties of England (Map and Facts) | Mappr

[:0-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 ^2.6 Cambridgeshire | England, Map, History, & Facts | Britannica

[:2-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Local Government in Cambridgeshire

[4] Cambridgeshire Landscapes | Cambridgeshire Geological Society

[5] Key Sectors

[:1-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Cambridgeshire Economy | Labour Market & Industries

[7] 27. Agriculture in Cambridgeshire 1792-1815 / edited by William Franklin - Cambridgeshire Records Society

[8] Projects

[9] Agriculture

[10] Coprolite: Mining for Poo in Cambridge

[11] Cambridge map reveals 2,000 years of hidden history

[12] Fens | England, Map, & Facts | Britannica

[13] Main Roman roads and towns of Cambridgeshire

[14] BBC Cambridgeshire - Walk Through Time - The Cam Valley - Stage 2

[15] Roman town remains near Great Staughton get protection

[16] Ancient and Roman Cambridge

[17] BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: The Anglo-Saxons

[18] Which Saxon kingdom was Cambridge in?

[19] A Short History of Cambridge: All You Need to Know

[20] Cambridge Saffron

[21] Paper Makers' Index

[22] Stourbridge (Stirbitch/Sturbridge/Steresbridge) Fair | Capturing Cambridge

[23] A History of Cambridge

[24] The city of Cambridge: The growth of the city | British History Online

[25] Cambridgeshire, England - genealogy heraldry and history

[26] History | University of Cambridge

[27] Local Government in Cambridgeshire

[28] Historic churches

[29] Cambridge, unparished area - MapIt

[30] Population - LSOA 2021 | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough | Report Builder for ArcGIS

[31] Archives

[32] Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Insight – JSNA 2023 – Demography – Ethnicity and languages

[33] Most Common Last Names In Cambridgeshire

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