Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in South East England known for its beautiful countryside and the historic University of Oxford. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to the west. The city of Oxford is the largest settlement and county town.^[1] There is a valuable historical map of Oxfordshire on the British1 UK Search Engine and Directory, Maps of Oxfordshire.^[2]

The population of Oxfordshire is 738,276 according to mid-2022 population figures published by the Office for National Statistics. Oxfordshire's population growth rate between mid-2021 and mid-2022 was 1.6% per year. Oxfordshire covers an area of 2,605 square kilometers (1,006 square miles) and has a population density of 283 people per square kilometre (km2), based on the latest population estimates taken in mid-2022.^[3] According to the latest 2021 census, the population in Oxfordshire is predominantly white (87%), with non-white minorities representing the remaining 13% of the population.^[3]

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Oxfordshire landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractionsOxfordshire landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractions

Oxfordshire boasts a diverse landscape, including rolling hills, picturesque villages, and the River Thames flowing through its center.

The county has major education and tourist industries and is noted for concentrations of performance motorsport, car manufacturing and technology companies. Oxford University Press is the largest firm among a concentration of print and publishing firms; the University of Oxford is also linked to the concentration of local biotechnology companies.^[2]

The North Oxfordshire Heights are important for sheep and arable farming, mostly on large farms. From medieval times until quite recently, wool was a mainstay of the economy. The clay vale is mainly sown to grass, and milk and beef are produced. The White Horse Vale and the northern slope of the Downs (in the southern part of the administrative county) are noted for fruit production.^[1]

The Bodleian Library was founded by Sir Thomas Bodley and officially opened in 1602. Since then the Bodleian Libraries has grown to be the largest academic library system in the UK.^[4] The University of Oxford is world-famous. The Cotswold towns of Witney, once famed for its blanket industry and now a thriving market town. The town of Abingdon-on-Thames dates back to the Iron Age. Henley-on-Thames is a picturesque town that is famous for an annual Royal Regatta – watched by over 300,000 people every year. The Museum of Oxford is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people.

Oxfordshire historyOxfordshire history

The history of Oxfordshire dates back to prehistoric times, with archaeological evidence indicating human settlements from the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods, particularly around the confluence of the River Thames and Cherwell, where significant ceremonial and funerary complexes have been discovered; this includes early Neolithic enclosures, Beaker period henges, and Bronze Age barrow cemeteries.^[5]

During the Roman period, the region saw some Roman influence, though it was on the periphery of Roman Britain. Only two settlement-sites of the Romano-British period in Oxfordshire, Alchester and Dorchester-on-Thames, have any claim to be called towns.^[6]

The Anglo-Saxons had a significant presence in Oxfordshire, settling in various locations throughout the county, with the city of Oxford itself being established by them and originally named "Oxnaford" in Old English, meaning "oxen's ford.^[7] They established settlements and kingdoms, with the area falling under the influence of both Wessex and Mercia. The Viking invasions disrupted this period, but the Anglo-Saxon influence remained strong.

The Norman Conquest in 1066 brought significant changes, with the establishment of feudalism and the construction of numerous castles and abbeys. The medieval period saw the rise of the University of Oxford, which became a center of learning and intellectual thought.

The 16th century witnessed the English Reformation, impacting religious institutions and social structures across the county. The 17th century saw the English Civil War, with Oxford serving as the Royalist headquarters.^[8]

The 18th century brought about significant social and economic changes, including the growth of agriculture and the development of the canal system.^[8] The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century had a limited impact on Oxfordshire compared to other parts of the country, though it saw some growth in industries like brewing and printing.^[9]

The 20th century brought further changes, including the two World Wars, which impacted the county significantly. In the post-war period, Oxfordshire experienced growth in education, research, and light industry. Today, the county is a thriving blend of historic towns and villages, a renowned university, and a growing economy.^[10]

Oxfordshire parishes and unparished areasOxfordshire parishes and unparished areas

Parish and town councilors represent smaller geographical areas such as Banbury, Chinnor, Woodstock or Buckland. All parts of the county (except certain parts of Oxford) are parished. They either have a town or parish council supported by a parish clerk or hold a parish meeting. There are 235 parish councils, 15 town councils and 68 parish meetings in Oxfordshire.^[11]

The Vale of White Horse district and parts of the South Oxfordshire administrative district south of the River Thames were historically part of Berkshire, but, in 1974, Abingdon, Didcot, Faringdon, Wallingford and Wantage were added to the administrative county of Oxfordshire. The Caversham area of Reading, now administratively in Berkshire, was historically part of Oxfordshire, as was the parish of Stokenchurch, now administratively in Buckinghamshire. The areas of Oxford city south of the Thames, such as Grandpont, were transferred much earlier, in 1889.^[2]

Oxfordshire geographyOxfordshire geography

Oxfordshire boasts a diverse landscape, featuring rolling hills like the Cotswolds and Chilterns, fertile valleys like the Vale of the White Horse, and the River Thames flowing through. This picturesque county is renowned for its charming villages with honey-colored stone buildings, lush green pastures, and scenic waterways. Oxfordshire also encompasses parts of several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, highlighting its exceptional natural beauty and offering opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and horse riding.^[12]

Researching family history in OxfordshireResearching family history in Oxfordshire

The Oxfordshire Family History Society's objective is to advance education in family history and genealogy primarily within the post-1974 county of Oxfordshire and to collect, index, co-ordinate, publish and make accessible in the interests of family history and genealogy any relevant document or records relating to the county.^[13] The Oxfordshire County Council has extensive web pages for First steps in researching your Oxfordshire family history and many other topics about family history.^[14] The Oxfordshire History Centre houses the three main collections and archives in Oxfordshire.

Ethnicities in OxfordshireEthnicities in Oxfordshire

The demographic distribution of the Oxfordshire population is as follows:^[3]

According to the latest 2021 census, the population in Oxfordshire is predominantly white (86.9%), with non-white minorities representing the remaining 13.1% of the population. Asian people were the largest minority group in Oxfordshire accounting for 6.4% of the population. 14,883 or 2% of the Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire, 2021 census

White - 630,054 people or 86.9%
Asian - 46,389 people or 6.4%
Mixed - 22,611 people or 3.1%
Black - 14,883 people or 2.1%
Other - 11,357 people or 1.6%

Surnames in OxfordshireSurnames in Oxfordshire

The demographic distribution of Oxfordshire surnames is as follows:^[15]

Surname	Incidence	Frequency
Smith	7,889	1:85
Jones	4,813	1:140
Williams	3,518	1:191
Taylor	3,508	1:192
Brown	3,205	1:210
Davies	2,422	1:278
Thomas	2,318	1:290
Harris	2,280	1:295
Evans	2,100	1:320
White	2,061	1:326

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.

References

[:2-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Oxfordshire | England, Map, History, & Facts | Britannica

[:1-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 A Map of Oxfordshire England. Oxfordshire UK Map

[:0-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Oxfordshire Demographics | Age, Ethnicity, Religion, Wellbeing

[4] Bodleian Library

[5] Prehistoric Oxford

[6] Romano-British remains: Settlement sites

[7] ANGLO-SAXON DISCOVERY Journey through Anglo-Saxon life and death

[:3-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Early Modern Oxford

[9] Discovering Britain - Manufacturing Oxford

[10] A History of Oxford

[11] Parish and town councils | Oxfordshire County Council

[12] Oxfordshire - Wikishire

[13] Oxfordshire Family History Society

[14] Museums and history | Oxfordshire County Council

[15] Most Common Surnames in Oxfordshire, With Meanings

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