Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is located in South West England, bordered by Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the northeast, Oxfordshire to the east, Wiltshire to the south, Monmouthshire (Wales) to the west, Herefordshire to the northwest and Bristol and South Gloucestershire (now separate administrative areas) to the south.^[1]

The population of Gloucester is 133,522 according to mid-2022 population figures published by the Office of National Statistics.^[2] The county covers approximately 1,025 square miles (2,653 km²). Cheltenham is the largest town, while Gloucester is the county city. Other significant towns include Stroud, Tewkesbury, and Cirencester.^[1]

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Gloucestershire landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractionsGloucestershire landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractions

Gloucestershire has three distinct geographical areas: The Cotswolds rolling limestone hills in the east, characterized by honey-colored stone buildings and picturesque villages, the Severn Vale a flat, fertile valley following the River Severn through the center of the county and the Forest of Dean an ancient woodland area in the west, between the Rivers Severn and Wye.^[3] The major industries of Gloucestershire include: aerospace which is a major presence around Gloucester and Cheltenham, manufacturing which includes engineering and food processing, finance and technology located particularly in Cheltenham, which hosts the GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters). Tourism is also a significant contributor to the local economy.^[4] Gloucestershire has always been a predominantly agricultural county. The celebrated three-fold division of ‘forest, vale and high blue hill’ has shaped the nature of agriculture within the county. The Vale of Gloucester is traditionally associated with dairy farming with pasture for beef plus orchards, while the Cotswolds are the realm of sheep and cereal crops. The Forest offers a mix, primarily silviculture (forest vegetation) and sheep on the higher ground, but with arable and orchard on the rich narrow lowlands.^[5]

Gloucester Cathedral is famous for its Gothic architecture and Harry Potter film locations. Cheltenham Racecourse is home of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival.^[6] Berkeley Castle is a medieval fortress where Edward II was imprisoned. Westonbirt Arboretum is the National Arboretum and is home to 2,500 different species from the far corners of the globe and 5 national tree collections.^[7] Sudeley Castle is historic castle with connections to Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth and final wife.^[8] Tewkesbury Abbey is a notable Norman abbey church. The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile walking trail through scenic countryside. In 1938, The Forest of Dean was designated the first National Forest Park in England.^[9]

Gloucestershire historyGloucestershire history

The earliest evidence of human habitation in Gloucestershire dates back to the Paleolithic period, with significant archaeological finds in the Cotswold-Severn region. The area's limestone caves, particularly those in the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds, have yielded important prehistoric remains.[1] The Bronze Age saw increased settlement activity, with evidence of farming communities and ritual sites. Iron Age hill forts became prominent features of the landscape.^[10]

The Roman conquest in about 43 AD brought major changes to Gloucestershire. The region became strategically important due to its position between the Severn Estuary and the interior of Britain.^[11] Following Roman withdrawal, Gloucestershire became part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Hwicce, later absorbed into Mercia.^[12]

Gloucestershire gained increasing importance during the medieval period from 1066 to 1485. Wool trade became central to the county's economy along with the growth of cloth industry in Stroud Valley and the development of market towns like Tewkesbury, Winchcombe, and Chipping Campden.^[13]

In the Early Modern Period from 1485 to1800, the county experienced significant changes including growth of cloth industry^[14] in the Stroud Valleys, the development of pin-making in Gloucester, and the expansion of agricultural trade.^[15]

The 18th and 19th centuries brought dramatic changes with canal network construction, including the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal, railway expansion, growth of engineering industries, and the continued importance of textile manufacturing.^[16]

In the 20th century, the county underwent significant transformation with the development of aircraft production at Gloucester. The two world wars increased military installations and training camps. The Post-War Development saw growth of service sector, decline of traditional industries, development of new industrial estates, and expansion of educational institutions.^[17]

Gloucestershire parishes and unparished areasGloucestershire parishes and unparished areas

Gloucestershire, England has 313 civil parishes. The former Cheltenham Municipal Borough and Gloucester County Borough are not parishes. Gloucestershire also has 264 parish and town councils, which are the first tier of local government in the area. Parish councils represent the interests of the local people, and in more urban areas, they may be called town councils. In Gloucestershire, there are two unparished areas: the former Cheltenham Municipal Borough and the former Gloucester County Borough.^[18]

Gloucestershire geographyGloucestershire geography

The county's geography can be divided into three distinct natural regions: the Cotswolds (Eastern Region). a limestone escarpment and plateau forming the eastern portion of the county and characterized by rolling hills rising to around 1,000 feet (330 meters) and the Severn Vale (Central Region) consisting of a low-lying floodplain following the River Severn that stretches through the heart of the county. Notable geographic features include: Cleeve Hill (the highest point in the county at 1,083 feet/330 meters), a distinctive steep western escarpment with springs emerging at the base of the escarpment, shallow, open uplands made of permeable limestone creating dry valleys, and a low-lying floodplain following the River Severn.^[19] Gloucestershire has mostly relatively flat landscape between 30-100 feet (10-30 meters) above sea level. Noteworthy is the Severn Bore phenomenon (tidal surge).^[20] The River Severn is Britain's longest river, running north-south through Gloucestershire county. In addition, the River Wye forms the western boundary with Wales and the River Thames rises in the county near Kemble. The Forest of Dean is located in the Western Region. There is an ancient woodland plateau between the Rivers Severn and Wye. The Cotswold Water Park area has over 150 lakes formed from gravel extraction.^[21]

Researching family history in GloucestershireResearching family history in Gloucestershire

The Gloucestershire Archives gathers, keeps and shares historic archive collections relating to Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire and local and family history resources. The Gloucestershire Archives also has a website for Family History - where to start. The Gloucestershire Family History Society is a self-help organization staffed by volunteers helping all to research their ancestors and the background against which they led their lives in Gloucestershire and beyond. GEN-UKI has a summary of Gloucestershire genealogy.

Ethnicities in GloucestershireEthnicities in Gloucestershire

The demographic distribution of the Gloucestershire population is as follows:^[2]

According to the latest 2021 census, the population in Gloucester is predominantly white (85%), with non-white minorities representing the remaining 15% of the population. The median average age in Gloucester in 2022 was 39.2, with people of working age (ages 16-64) representing 63.9% of the population. The sex ratio was 98.0 males to every 100 females. English is spoken as the main language by 92.0% of people in Gloucester, and spoken either well or very well by 6.5% of the population. 1.3% reported having poor English language skills, and the remaining 0.2% spoke no English at all.

Surnames in GloucestershireSurnames in Gloucestershire

The demographic distribution of Gloucestershire surnames is as follows:^[22]

Surname	Incidence	Frequency
Smith	11,938	1:75
Jones	9,970	1:90
Williams	7,916	1:113
Davies	4,664	1:191
Taylor	4,622	1:193
Brown	4,617	1:193
Davis	4,590	1:194
Evans	4,466	1:200
Thomas	4,273	1:209
Lewis	3,753	1:238

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

[:1-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Gloucestershire | England, Map, History, & Facts | Britannica

[:0-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Gloucester Demographics | Age, Ethnicity, Religion, Wellbeing

[3] Gazetteer of British Place Names

[4] Sectors | Invest in Gloucestershire

[5] Research guide

[6] Cheltenham

[7] Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

[8] Katherine Parr

[9] The Forest of Dean

[10] The Middle Bronze Age and Pre-Roman Iron Age

[11] The Roman conquest in about 43 AD brought major changes to Gloucestershire

[12] Our Migration Story: The Making of Britain

[13] History: Background to local wool industry

[14] Peasants and industry

[15] Peasants and industry

[16] Gloucester, 1835-1985: Economic development to 1914 | British History Online

[17] A Brief History of the City of Gloucester, pt. 2

[18] List of civil parishes in Gloucestershire

[19] Bristol and Gloucester region. British regional geology

[20] Genuki: Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire

[21] Gloucestershire

[22] Most Common Surnames in Gloucestershire, With Meanings

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