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    Hertfordshire, commonly referred to as Herts,[1] is an administrative and historic county situated in southern England, borders Greater London to the south. A slight discrepancy exists between the geographic boundaries of the administrative and historic counties. The administrative county is subdivided into ten districts: East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, Three Rivers, and Welwyn Hatfield; the boroughs of Broxbourne, Dacorum, Hertsmere, Stevenage, and Watford; and the city of St. Albans. Notably, the Potters Bar area within Hertsmere borough is excluded from the historic county of Hertfordshire and is instead part of the historic county of Middlesex. Conversely, the historic county of Hertfordshire encompasses a significant portion of northern and central Barnet borough, which is now within Greater London. Hertford, located in south-central Hertfordshire, serves as the county town.[2]

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    Hertfordshire landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractionsHertfordshire landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractions

    Hertfordshire historyHertfordshire history

    Hertfordshire has evidence of human activity dating back to the Mesolithic period, with flint tools found in Rickmansworth dating back around 350,000 years.[3] The area was inhabited by various tribes who engaged in farming and hunting.[4]

    The Romans occupied Hertfordshire from AD 43 to the early 5th century. They established the town of Verulamium (modern-day St Albans), which became one of the largest Roman settlements in Britain. Roman roads such as Watling Street and Ermine Street passed through the county, facilitating trade and military movements.[5]

    During the Anglo-Saxon period, Hertfordshire was part of the Kingdom of Essex. Settlements such as Hertford and St Albans began to develop, and the name "Hertfordshire" is derived from "Hertford," meaning "ford frequented by deer."[6]

    The Norman Conquest in 1066 brought great changes to Hertfordshire, as it did elsewhere. After the Battle of Hastings, William marched northward and, crossing the Thames at Wallingford, laid waste the country till he came to Berkhampstead.[7]

    In the 16th century, Hertfordshire experienced significant changes due to the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. St Albans Abbey was dissolved, and its lands were redistributed. The county also became a popular location for the nobility to build country houses, such as Hatfield House.[8]

    The 17th century was marked by the English Civil War, from 1642 to 1651, during which Hertfordshire saw several key battles and skirmishes. The county was largely Parliamentarian, and the post-war period brought economic growth and the development of market towns.[9]

    Hertfordshire parishes and unparished areasHertfordshire parishes and unparished areas

    There are 125 town, parish and community councils in Hertfordshire.[10] There are also 10 district and borough councils in Hertfordshire.[10] In Hertfordshire there are ‘unparished’ areas also designated as Non Civil Parish (NCP) by Ordnance Survey. Unparished areas are often described as “the unparished area of X District” in Statutory Instruments (legal orders typically enacting boundary changes). In unparished areas, where there is no parish council, powers are exercised by the district council. Depending on the source, there are 13 unparished areas within Hertfordshire county. There is no single dominant large urban centre. In total, there are 40 settlements with 4,000 or more residents in each.[11]

    Hertfordshire geographyHertfordshire geography

    Most of Hertfordshire county sits in a low-lying area called the London Basin. However, a hilly region known as the Chiltern Hills runs through the northern part of the county. The land generally slopes downward towards the River Thames. Rivers like the Lea and the Colne carry water from the county into the Thames. Many years ago, people dug into the sandy and gravelly areas to extract resources. These old pits have now filled with water and are used for activities like boating or storing water.[2]

    The county's landscape is characterized by rolling hills and many trees. Unfortunately, the growth of London has been creeping into the countryside. To protect the natural beauty of the area, laws have been put in place to limit urban development and preserve the remaining green spaces near the city.[2]

    Researching family history in HertfordshireResearching family history in Hertfordshire

    The Hertfordshire County Council has a helpful page called Trace your family history and another web page about Family History Research. The Hertfordshire Countiy Council is also the source for birth, marriage, and death records. The Hertfordshire Family History Society was founded in 1977. FamilyHistory.co.uk provides links to many Hertfordshire records. Additional record links are on the Hertfordshire Family History page of the Family History Directory. Hertfordshire Genealogy also has extensive links to valuable research sources.

    Ethnicities in HertfordshireEthnicities in Hertfordshire

    The demographic distribution of the Hertfordshire population is as follows:[12]

    According to the latest 2021 census, the population in Hertfordshire is predominantly white (81.8%), with non-white minorities representing the remaining 18.2% of the population. Asian people were the largest minority group in Hertfordshire accounting for 8.6% of the population. 44,894 or 4% of the Hertfordshire population are black according to the latest 2021 census. In England more broadly the portion of the population that is white is 81%. 10% are Asian and 4% are Black.

    Population by race in Hertfordshire, 2021 census

    • White - 980,061 people or 81.8%
    • Asian - 103,668 people or 8.6%
    • Mixed - 45,126 people or 3.8%
    • Black - 44,894 people or 3.7%
    • Other - 25,049 people or 2.1%

    Surnames in HertfordshireSurnames in Hertfordshire

    The demographic distribution of Hertfordshire surnames is as follows:[13]

    Smith 12,880 1:91
    Jones 6,023 1:194
    Brown 5,494 1:213
    Taylor 5,338 1:219
    Williams 4,815 1:243
    Patel 3,785 1:309
    Wilson 3,563 1:329
    Johnson 3,527 1:332
    Clark 3,432 1:341
    White 3,210 1:365

    Explore more about English CountiesExplore more about English Counties

    MyHeritage 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. ↑ 22 Interesting Facts about Hertfordshire - World's Facts
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hertfordshire | County in England, History, Map, & Culture | Britannica
    3. ↑ Historical Introduction | British History Online
    4. ↑ Ashmolean Museum: British Archaeology Collections - Mesolithic Collection
    5. ↑ St Albans (Verulamium) Roman Settlement
    6. ↑ Anglo-Saxon Period
    7. ↑ The Norman Conquest
    8. ↑ Why Did Henry VIII Dissolve the Monasteries in England? A Historian‘s Perspective - History Tools
    9. ↑ The English Civil Wars: History and Stories
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 How the council works
    11. ↑ About Hertfordshire | Hertfordshire | Report Builder for ArcGIS
    12. ↑ Hertfordshire Demographics | Age, Ethnicity, Religion, Wellbeing
    13. ↑ Most Common Surnames in Hertfordshire, With Meanings
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