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    • Main contributor: James L. Tanner
    Southend on Sea

    Essex, the administrative, geographic, and historic county of eastern England extends along the North Sea coastline between the Thames and Stour estuaries. The administrative county covers an area within the larger geographic county, which in turn covers a part of the original historic county of Essex.[1] Essex county is one of the larger counties and originated as a kingdom. Its southern boundary is the Thames, the Stour separates it from Suffolk, and the Stort and the River Lea from Hertfordshire and Middlesex to the west. Essex covers an area of 3,464 square kilometres (1,338 square miles) and has a population density of 439 people per square kilometre (km2), based on the latest population estimates taken in mid-2022.[2] The southwest of Essex borders London and is made up of industrialised urban and suburban areas although Essex is neither prominently urban nor rural in character.[3]

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    Essex landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractionsEssex landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractions

    The coastline in Essex is one of the longest of any county in England and much of it is made up of an intricate network of river estuaries, creeks, islands, mudflats and offshore sandbanks.[4] Its terrain is generally flat, the chalk highlands in the northwest slope gradually south and east towards the low alluvial coast with its many inlets and coastal islands. Much of what used to be marshland has now been reclaimed. Essex borders the river Thames to the south.[4] Some of the World's most well known Engineering Companies are based in Essex and it is home to the second largest cluster of advanced manufacturing and engineering companies in the UK , with businesses experiencing skills shortages in areas such as   Aerospace, Civil, Environmental, Defence, AgriTech and MedTech.[5]

    Traditionally the county has been dominated by agriculture, both arable and sheep farming, with the wool trade, making the area between Braintree and Colchester particularly prosperous –many of painter John Constable’s most famous scenes come from this area.[6] Essex is known for its cereal crops, especially wheat, barley, and oats. The county's fertile soil and favorable climate make it ideal for these crops. Farming is a major part of the Essex economy growing £400 million worth of produce and employs over 8,000 people in the county, with many times that employed in the upstream and downstream industries.[7]

    Essex county is the home of many attractions. Brightlingsea Beach is famed for its water quality – in fact it’s one of only seven Blue Flag Beaches in Essex. The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex with a footpath along its full length.  The waterway passes highlights such as the lock at Paper Mill and All Saints Church in Ulting, joining the sea at Heybridge.[8] Dedham is a village with cobblestone streets and Tudor-style architecture. Epping Forest forms a direct green link between London and rural Essex and lends its name to a market town and surrounding district.

    Essex historyEssex history

    Essex has evidence of human activity dating back to prehistoric times, with archaeological finds indicating settlements during the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods.[9] During the Roman occupation (43 AD - 410 AD), Essex was part of Roman Britain. The Romans built forts and settlements, such as Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester), which became the capital of Roman Britain.

    After the Roman withdrawal, Essex became part of the Kingdom of Essex[10] or the East Saxons. The region saw the establishment of several Anglo-Saxon settlements and churches.[11]

    The 16th century saw the English Reformation, initiated by Henry VIII in 1534. This led to the break from the Roman Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England, with the monarch as its supreme head. Essex, like the rest of England, experienced the dissolution of monasteries and the redistribution of church lands.[12] The 16th century also saw economic and social changes in Essex. Agriculture remained the primary industry, but there was also growth in trade and industry. The population increased, leading to the expansion of towns and villages.[12]

    In the 17th Century Essex played a role in the English Civil War, with battles and skirmishes taking place in the county. The conflict was between the Royalists, who supported King Charles I, and the Parliamentarians, who sought to limit the king's power.[13] Essex was known for its agricultural productivity, particularly in dairy farming and the production of cheese. The cloth industry was also significant.[14]

    The 18th century saw significant agricultural development in Essex. The county also experienced improvements in infrastructure, including the construction of new roads and canals.[15] The population of Essex grew rapidly during the 19th century, driven by both natural increase and migration. This led to the expansion of towns and the development of new urban areas. Coastal towns like Southend-on-Sea and Clacton became popular seaside resorts, attracting visitors from London.[16]

    The early 20th century saw significant suburban development in Essex County, particularly with the establishment of the Becontree Estate in 1919 by the London County Council. This estate, mainly in Dagenham but also extending into Barking and Ilford, was one of the largest public housing projects in the world at the time.

    Essex parishes and unparished areasEssex parishes and unparished areas

    The administrative county comprises 12 districts: Basildon, Braintree, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring, Uttlesford, and the boroughs of Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, and Colchester. Chelmsford, centrally situated, has long been the county headquarters and is also the seat of a church diocese.[1] Essex county also has 307 civil parishes. Parts of the former Basildon Urban District, Braintree and Bocking Urban District, Brentwood Urban District, Colchester Municipal Borough, Chelmsford Municipal Borough and Southend-on-Sea County Borough are unparished.[17]

    Essex geographyEssex geography

    Essex County is primarily flat, with the chalk highlands in the northwest gradually sloping southward and eastward towards the low, marshy coastline dotted with inlets and islands. Many of these marshlands have been reclaimed for development. The county borders the Thames River to the south, while the Lea, Roding, Crouch, Blackwater, and Stour rivers flow into the North Sea.[18]

    Geologically, Essex lies within the London Basin and is covered by layers of London Clay. The county's fertile soils, deposited by glacial activity, support a thriving agricultural industry. Despite the remaining marshlands, Essex also boasts important port facilities along its coastline.[18]

    Researching family history in EssexResearching family history in Essex

    The Essex Record Office (ERO) has parish registers from over 400 parishes in Essex, including Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. Most parishes have registers from the 17th or 18th century onwards, but some go back to 1538.[19] In addition,The Essex Record Office has a webpage with instructions to Research your family historyit also hosts the Essex Archives Online. The Essex Record Office also has additional webpages entitled Starting your family historyand Biographical, historical and family history. The Essex Society for Family History was established in 1974, it is one of the oldest family history societies in England, with more than 2,600 members. Family History.co.uk has links to helpful resources. The Essex Family History Society was formed in 1974, becoming a registered charity in 1984 and their aims are to encourage and promote the study of Genealogy within the county.

    Ethnicities in EssexEthnicities in Essex

    The demographic distribution of the Essex population is as follows:[20]

    The population of Essex is 1,519,509 according to mid-2022 population figures published by the Office for National Statistics. Essex's population growth rate between mid-2021 and mid-2022 was 0.8% per year. Essex covers an area of 3,464 square kilometres (1,338 square miles) and has a population density of 439 people per square kilometre (km2), based on the latest population estimates taken in mid-2022.

    According to the latest 2021 census, the population in Essex is predominantly white (90%), with non-white minorities representing the remaining 10% of the population.[2]

    Surnames in EssexSurnames in Essex

    The demographic distribution of Essex surnames is as follows:[21]

    Surname Incidence Frequen
    Smith 25,530 1:70
    Brown 10,045 1:178
    Jones 9,875 1:181
    Taylor 8,882 1:201
    Williams 7,693 1:232
    Clark 6,708 1:266
    Wright 6,359 1:281
    White 6,080 1:293
    Johnson 5,862 1:304
    King 5,738 1:311

    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.

    See alsoSee also

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Essex | England, Map, History, Population, & Facts | Britannica
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Essex Demographics | Age, Ethnicity, Religion, Wellbeing
    3. ↑ Eurostat
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Essex Coastal Forum - Landscape
    5. ↑ Engineering & Manufacturing
    6. ↑ Traditionally the county has been dominated by agriculture, both arable and sheep farming, with the wool trade, making the area between Braintree and Colchester particularly prosperous –many of painter John Constable’s most famous scenes come from this area.
    7. ↑ Essex Coastal Forum - Agriculture
    8. ↑ Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
    9. ↑ Colonising Britain - One million years of our human story
    10. ↑ Kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxons - Essex
    11. ↑ BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: Overview: Anglo-Saxons, 410 to 800
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 English Reformation - World History Encyclopedia
    13. ↑ English Civil War: (1642–1651)
    14. ↑ 17th Century Textiles - HUMPHRIES WEAVING
    15. ↑ Effects of the Agricultural Revolution | History of Western Civilization II
    16. ↑ Metropolitan Essex since 1850: Population growth and the built-up area | British History Online
    17. ↑ Unparished Areas
    18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Eurostat
    19. ↑ Essex Archives Online - Parish Registers
    20. ↑ Essex Demographics | Age, Ethnicity, Religion, Wellbeing
    21. ↑ Most Common Surnames in Essex, With Meanings
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