Place:Devon, England

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NameDevon
Alt namesDEVsource: Curious Fox: UK Counties and Shires [online] (2002). accessed 16 Dec 2002
Devonshiresource: Stroud, Sir John Soane (1984); Webster's Geographical Dictionary (1984)
TypeHistoric county, Administrative county, Modern county
Coordinates50.733°N 3.817°W
Located inEngland
Contained Places
Ancient parish
Abbots Bickington
Abbotsham
Abbotskerswell ( - 1935 )
Alphington (by Exeter)
Alverdiscott
Alwington
Arlington
Ashburton
Ashbury
Ashcombe
Ashford
Ashprington
Ashreigney
Ashton
Ashwater
Atherington
Aveton Gifford
Awliscombe
Axminster ( 1844 - )
Axmouth
Aylesbeare
Bampton
Barnstaple
Beaford
Beaworthy
Belstone
Bere Ferrers
Berry Pomeroy
Berrynarbor
Bickleigh (near Plymouth)
Bickleigh (near Tiverton)
Bicton
Bideford
Bigbury
Bishop's Tawton
Bishops Nympton
Bishopsteignton
Bittadon
Black Torrington
Blackawton
Bondleigh
Bovey Tracey
Bow
Bradford
Bradninch
Bradstone
Bradworthy
Brampford Speke
Branscombe
Bratton Clovelly
Bratton Fleming
Braunton
Brendon
Brentor
Bridestowe
Bridford
Brixham ( 1200 - )
Broad Clyst
Broad Nymet ( - 1894 )
Broadhembury
Broadhempston
Broadwood Kelly
Broadwoodwidger
Brushford
Buckerell
Buckland Brewer
Buckland Filleigh
Buckland Monachorum
Bulkworthy
Burlescombe
Burrington
Butterleigh
Cadbury
Cadeleigh
Calverleigh ( - 1885 )
Chagford
Challacombe
Chardstock ( 1896 - )
Charles (South Molton)
Charleton
Chawleigh
Cheldon ( - 1986 )
Cheriton Bishop
Cheriton Fitzpaine
Chittlehampton
Chivelstone
Christow
Chudleigh
Chulmleigh
Churchstanton ( - 1896 )
Churchstow
Clannaborough
Clawton
Clayhanger
Clayhidon
Clovelly
Clyst Honiton
Clyst Hydon
Clyst St. George
Clyst St. Lawrence
Clyst St. Mary
Cockington ( - 1928 )
Colaton Raleigh
Coldridge
Colebrooke (near Crediton)
Colyton
Combe Martin
Combe Raleigh
Combpyne
Cornwood
Cornworthy
Coryton
Cotleigh
Countisbury
Creacombe
Crediton
Cruwys Morchard
Cullompton
Culmstock
Dartington
Dartmouth ( 1835 - )
Dawlish
Dean Prior
Devonport
Diptford
Dittisham
Doddiscombsleigh
Dolton
Dowland
Down St. Mary
Drewsteignton
Dunchideock
Dunkeswell
Dunsford
Dunterton
East Allington
East Anstey
East Buckland
East Budleigh
East Down
East Ogwell ( - 1894 )
East Portlemouth
East Putford
East Worlington
Egg Buckland ( - 1939 )
Eggesford
Ermington
Exbourne
Exeter St. Peter
Exeter ( - 1974 )
Exminster
Exmouth
Farringdon
Farway
Feniton
Filleigh
Fremington
Frithelstock
George Nympton
Georgeham
Germansweek
Gidleigh
Gittisham
Goodleigh
Great Torrington
Halberton
Halwell
Halwill
Harberton
Harford
Hartland
Hatherleigh
Hawkchurch ( 1896 - )
Heanton Punchardon
Heavitree
Hemyock
Hennock
High Bickington
High Bray
Highampton
Hittisleigh
Hockworthy
Holbeton
Holcombe Burnell
Holcombe Rogus
Hollacombe
Holne
Holsworthy
Honiton
Horwood
Huish
Huntsham
Huntshaw
Huxham
Iddesleigh
Ide
Ideford
Ilfracombe
Ilsington
Instow
Inwardleigh
Ipplepen
Jacobstowe
Kelly
Kenn
Kentisbeare
Kentisbury
Kenton
Kings Nympton
Kingsbridge
Kingsteignton
Knowstone
Lamerton
Landcross
Landkey
Langtree
Lapford
Lewtrenchard
Lifton
Little Torrington
Littleham (near Bideford)
Littleham (near Exmouth)
Littlehempston
Loddiswell
Loxbeare
Loxhore
Luffincott
Luppitt
Lustleigh
Lydford
Lympstone
Lynton
Mamhead
Manaton
Mariansleigh
Martinhoe
Marwood
Mary Tavy
Marystow
Meavy
Meeth
Merton
Meshaw
Milton Abbot
Milton Damerel
Modbury
Molland
Monkleigh
Monkokehampton
Monkton
Morchard Bishop
Morebath
Moreleigh
Moreton Hampstead
Mortehoe
Musbury
Newton Abbot
Newton Ferrers ( - 1935 )
Newton St. Cyres
Newton St. Petrock
Newton Tracey
North Bovey
North Huish
North Molton
North Petherwin ( 1844 - 1966 )
North Tawton
Northam
Northleigh
Northlew
Nymet Rowland
Oakford
Offwell
Okehampton ( 500 - )
Otterton
Ottery St. Mary
Paignton
Pancrasweek
Parkham
Parracombe
Payhembury
Peter Tavy
Peters Marland
Petrockstowe
Pilton ( - 1894 )
Pinhoe
Plympton St. Mary
Plympton St. Maurice
Plymstock
Plymtree
Poltimore
Powderham
Puddington
Pyworthy
Rackenford
Rattery
Revelstoke ( - 1935 )
Rewe
Ringmore
Roborough
Rockbeare
Romansleigh
Rose Ash
Rousdon ( - 1939 )
Salcombe Regis
Sampford Courtenay ( 1000 - )
Sampford Peverell
Seaton
Shaldon St. Nicholas
Shebbear
Sheldon
Shillingford St. George
Shirwell
Shobrooke
Sidbury
Sidmouth
Silverton
Slapton
South Brent
South Molton
South Pool
South Tawton
Southleigh
Sowton
Spreyton
St. Giles on the Heath
St. Leonard
St. Marychurch
St. Thomas the Apostle ( - 1900 )
Staverton
Stockland ( 1844 - )
Stockleigh English
Stockleigh Pomeroy
Stoke Canon
Stoke Damerel
Stoke Fleming
Stoke Gabriel
Stokeinteignhead
Stokenham
Stoodleigh
Stowford
Sutcombe
Swimbridge
Sydenham Damerel
Tamerton Foliot
Tavistock
Tawstock
Tedburn St. Mary
Teigngrace
Teignmouth
Templeton
Tetcott
Thelbridge
Thornbury
Thorncombe ( - 1844 )
Thorverton
Throwleigh
Thurlestone
Tiverton
Topsham
Torbryan
Totnes
Trentishoe
Trusham
Uffculme
Ugborough
Uplowman
Uplyme
Upottery
Upton Hellions
Upton Pyne
Walkhampton
Washfield
Washford Pyne
Weare Giffard
Wellcombe
Wembury
Wembworthy
Werrington ( 1844 - 1966 )
West Alvington
West Anstey
West Buckland
West Down
West Ogwell ( - 1894 )
West Putford
Westleigh (near Bideford)
Whimple
Whitchurch
Whitestone
Widecombe in the Moor
Widworthy
Willand
Winkleigh
Witheridge
Wolborough
Woodbury
Woodleigh
Woolfardisworthy (Torridge)
Woolfardisworthy (near Crediton)
Yarnscombe
Yealmpton
Zeal Monachorum
Area
Dartmoor
Borough (county)
Devonport
Exeter ( - 1974 )
Plymouth
Torbay Unitary Authority ( 1968 - )
Borough (municipal)
Barnstaple
Bideford
Dartmouth ( 1835 - )
Devonport
Great Torrington
Honiton
Okehampton ( 500 - )
South Molton
Tiverton
Torquay
Totnes
Cemetery
Exeter St. Peter
St Peter Churchyard
St Petrock Churchyard
Chapelry
Beer
Bickington
Brixton
Broad Nymet ( - 1894 )
Buckland Tout Saints
Buckland in the Moor
Budleigh Salterton
Chittlehamholt ( 1875 - )
Churston Ferrers ( - 1967 )
Coffinswell
Compton Gifford
Cookbury
East Stonehouse
Harpford ( - 1968 )
Highweek
Horrabridge ( 1950 - )
Kennerleigh
Kilmington
Kingskerswell ( - 1935 )
Kingston
Kingswear
Malborough
Marldon
Membury
Nether Exe
Newton Poppleford ( - 1968 )
Queens Nympton ( 1894 - )
Sampford Spiney
Sandford
Shaugh Prior
Sheepstor
Sheepwash
Sherford
Shute
Sourton
South Huish
South Milton
St. Budeaux ( - 1951 )
St. Giles in the Wood
Strete
Thrushelton
Twitchen
Venn Ottery ( - 1935 )
Weston Peverell ( - 1935 )
Withycombe Raleigh
Woodland
Civil parish
Abbots Bickington
Abbotsham
Abbotskerswell ( - 1935 )
Alphington (by Exeter)
Alverdiscott
Alwington
Arlington
Ashburton
Ashbury
Ashcombe
Ashford
Ashprington
Ashreigney
Ashton
Ashwater
Atherington
Aveton Gifford
Awliscombe
Axminster Hamlets ( 1915 - 1953 )
Axminster ( 1844 - )
Axmouth
Aylesbeare
Bampton
Barnstaple
Beaford
Beaworthy
Beer
Belstone
Bere Ferrers
Berry Pomeroy
Berrynarbor
Bickington
Bickleigh (near Plymouth)
Bickleigh (near Tiverton)
Bicton
Bigbury
Bishop's Tawton
Bishops Nympton
Bishopsteignton
Bittadon
Black Torrington
Blackawton
Bondleigh
Bovey Tracey
Bow
Bradford
Bradninch
Bradstone
Bradworthy
Brampford Speke
Branscombe
Bratton Clovelly
Bratton Fleming
Braunton
Brendon
Brentor
Bridestowe
Bridford
Bridgerule East ( 1866 - 1950 )
Bridgerule West ( 1844 - 1950 )
Bridgerule
Brixham ( 1200 - )
Brixton
Broad Clyst
Broadhembury
Broadhempston
Broadwood Kelly
Broadwoodwidger
Brushford
Buckerell
Buckfastleigh
Buckland Brewer
Buckland Filleigh
Buckland Monachorum
Buckland Tout Saints
Buckland in the Moor
Budleigh Salterton
Bulkworthy
Burlescombe
Burrington
Butterleigh
Cadbury
Cadeleigh
Calverleigh ( - 1885 )
Chagford
Challacombe
Chardstock ( 1896 - )
Charles (South Molton)
Charleton
Chawleigh
Cheldon ( - 1986 )
Cheriton Bishop
Cheriton Fitzpaine
Chittlehamholt ( 1875 - )
Chittlehampton
Chivelstone
Christow
Chudleigh
Chulmleigh
Churchstanton ( - 1896 )
Churchstow
Churston Ferrers ( - 1967 )
Clannaborough
Clawton
Clayhanger
Clayhidon
Clovelly
Clyst Honiton
Clyst Hydon
Clyst St. George
Clyst St. Lawrence
Clyst St. Mary
Cockington ( - 1928 )
Coffinswell
Colaton Raleigh
Coldridge
Colebrooke (near Crediton)
Colyton
Combe Martin
Combe Raleigh
Combpyne Rousdon ( 1939 - )
Combpyne
Compton Gifford
Cookbury
Cornwood
Cornworthy
Coryton
Cotleigh
Countisbury
Creacombe
Crediton Hamlets ( 1894 - )
Crediton
Cruwys Morchard
Cullompton
Culmstock
Dalwood ( 1844 - )
Dartington
Dartmouth ( 1835 - )
Dawlish
Dean Prior
Devonport
Diptford
Dittisham
Doddiscombsleigh
Dolton
Dotton ( - 1894 )
Dowland
Down St. Mary
Drewsteignton
Dunchideock
Dunkeswell
Dunsford
Dunterton
East Allington
East Anstey
East Buckland
East Budleigh
East Down
East Ogwell ( - 1894 )
East Pilton
East Portlemouth
East Putford
East Stonehouse
East Worlington
Egg Buckland ( - 1939 )
Eggesford
Ermington
Ermington
Exbourne
Exminster
Exmouth
Farringdon
Farway
Feniton
Filleigh
Fremington
Frithelstock
George Nympton
Georgeham
Germansweek
Gidleigh
Gittisham
Goodleigh
Great Torrington
Haccombe with Combe ( 1885 - 1901 )
Halberton
Halwell
Halwill
Harberton
Harford
Harpford ( - 1968 )
Hartland
Hatherleigh
Hawkchurch ( 1896 - )
Heanton Punchardon
Heavitree
Hemyock
Hennock
High Bickington
High Bray
Highampton
Highley St. Mary ( - 1894 )
Highweek
Hittisleigh
Hockworthy
Holbeton
Holcombe Burnell
Holcombe Rogus
Hollacombe
Holne
Holsworthy Hamlets ( 1900 - )
Holsworthy
Honiton
Horrabridge ( 1950 - )
Horwood
Huish
Huntsham
Huntshaw
Huxham
Iddesleigh
Ide
Ideford
Ilfracombe
Ilsington
Instow
Inwardleigh
Ipplepen
Ivybridge
Jacobstowe
Kelly
Kenn
Kennerleigh
Kentisbeare
Kentisbury
Kenton
Kerswells ( 1935 - )
Kilmington
Kings Nympton
Kingsbridge
Kingskerswell ( - 1935 )
Kingsteignton
Kingston
Kingswear
Knowstone
Laira Green ( - 1896 )
Lamerton
Landcross
Landkey
Langtree
Lapford
Lewtrenchard
Lifton
Little Torrington
Littleham (near Bideford)
Littleham (near Exmouth)
Littlehempston
Loddiswell
Loxbeare
Loxhore
Luffincott
Lundy Island
Luppitt
Lustleigh
Lydford
Lympstone
Lynton
Malborough
Mamhead
Manaton
Mariansleigh
Marldon
Martinhoe
Marwood
Mary Tavy
Marystow
Meavy
Meeth
Membury
Merton
Meshaw
Milber ( 1901 - )
Milton Abbot
Milton Damerel
Modbury
Molland
Monkleigh
Monkokehampton
Monkton
Morchard Bishop
Morebath
Moreleigh
Moreton Hampstead
Mortehoe
Musbury
Nether Exe
Newton Abbot
Newton Ferrers ( - 1935 )
Newton Poppleford and Harpford ( 1968 - )
Newton Poppleford ( - 1968 )
Newton St. Cyres
Newton St. Petrock
Newton Tracey
Newton and Noss ( 1935 - )
North Bovey
North Huish
North Molton
North Petherwin ( 1844 - 1966 )
North Tawton
Northam
Northcott ( 1844 - 1966 )
Northleigh
Northlew
Nymet Rowland
Oakford
Offwell
Ogwell ( 1894 - )
Okehampton Hamlets ( 1894 - )
Okehampton ( 500 - )
Otterton
Ottery St. Mary
Paignton
Pancrasweek
Parkham
Parracombe
Payhembury
Peter Tavy
Peters Marland
Petrockstowe
Pilton ( - 1894 )
Pinhoe
Plymouth
Plympton St. Mary
Plympton St. Maurice
Plymstock
Plymtree
Poltimore
Poughill
Powderham
Puddington
Pyworthy
Queens Nympton ( 1894 - )
Rackenford
Rattery
Revelstoke ( - 1935 )
Rewe
Ringmore
Roborough
Rockbeare
Romansleigh
Rose Ash
Rousdon ( - 1939 )
Salcombe Regis
Salcombe
Sampford Courtenay ( 1000 - )
Sampford Peverell
Sampford Spiney
Sandford
Satterleigh and Warkleigh ( 1894 - )
Seaton and Beer ( - 1894 )
Seaton
Shaldon St. Nicholas
Shaugh Prior
Shebbear
Sheepstor
Sheepwash
Sheldon
Sherford
Sherwood Villa ( 1858 - 1894 )
Shillingford St. George
Shirwell
Shobrooke
Shute
Sidbury
Sidmouth
Silverton
Slapton
Sourton
South Brent
South Huish
South Milton
South Molton
South Pool
South Tawton
Southleigh
Sowton
Spreyton
St. Budeaux ( - 1951 )
St. Giles in the Wood
St. Giles on the Heath
St. Leonard
St. Marychurch
St. Thomas the Apostle ( - 1900 )
Staverton
Stockland ( 1844 - )
Stockleigh English
Stockleigh Pomeroy
Stoke Canon
Stoke Damerel
Stoke Fleming
Stoke Gabriel
Stoke Rivers
Stokeinteignhead
Stokenham
Stoodleigh
Stowford
Strete
Sutcombe
Swimbridge
Sydenham Damerel
Talaton
Tamerton Foliot
Tavistock Hamlets ( 1898 - )
Tavistock
Tawstock
Tedburn St. Mary
Teigngrace
Teignmouth
Templeton
Tetcott
Thelbridge
Thornbury
Thorncombe ( - 1844 )
Thorverton
Throwleigh
Thrushelton
Thurlestone
Tiverton
Topsham
Torbryan
Torquay
Totnes
Trentishoe
Trusham
Twitchen
Uffculme
Ugborough
Uplowman
Uplyme
Upottery
Upton Hellions
Upton Pyne
Venn Ottery ( - 1935 )
Virginstow
Walkhampton
Washfield
Washford Pyne
Weare Giffard
Wellcombe
Wembury
Wembworthy
Werrington ( 1844 - 1966 )
West Alvington
West Anstey
West Buckland
West Dawlish ( 1894 - 1974 )
West Down
West Ogwell ( - 1894 )
West Pilton ( 1894 - )
West Putford
Westleigh (near Bideford)
Weston Peverell ( - 1935 )
Westward Ho! ( - 1935 )
Whimple
Whitchurch
Whitestone
Widecombe in the Moor
Widworthy
Willand
Winkleigh
Witheridge
Withycombe Raleigh
Wolborough
Woodbury
Woodland
Woodleigh
Woolfardisworthy (Torridge)
Woolfardisworthy (near Crediton)
Yarcombe
Yarnscombe
Yealmpton
Zeal Monachorum
County town
Exeter ( - 1974 )
District municipality
East Devon District ( 1974 - )
Exeter District ( 1974 - )
Mid Devon District ( 1974 - )
North Devon District ( 1974 - )
South Hams District ( 1974 - )
Teignbridge District ( 1974 - )
Torridge District ( 1974 - )
West Devon District ( 1974 - )
Extra parochial area
Dotton ( - 1894 )
Highley St. Mary ( - 1894 )
Ivybridge
Laira Green ( - 1896 )
Slapton
Hamlet
Dalwood ( 1844 - )
Knowstone
Northcott ( 1844 - 1966 )
Poughill
Sherwood Villa ( 1858 - 1894 )
Hundred
Axminster Hundred
Bampton Hundred
Black Torrington Hundred
Braunton Hundred
Cliston Hundred
Coleridge Hundred
Colyton Hundred
Crediton Hundred
East Budleigh Hundred
Ermington Hundred
Exminster Hundred
Fremington Hundred
Halberton Hundred
Hartland Hundred
Hayridge Hundred
Haytor Hundred
Hemyock Hundred
Lifton Hundred
North Tawton and Winkleigh Hundred
Ottery St. Mary Hundred
Plympton Hundred
Roborough Hundred
Shebbear Hundred
Shirwell Hundred
South Molton Hundred
Stanborough Hundred
Tavistock Hundred
Teignbridge Hundred
Tiverton Hundred
West Budleigh Hundred
Witheridge Hundred
Wonford Hundred
Island
Lundy Island
Registration district
Axminster Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Barnstaple Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
Bideford Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
Crediton Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Devon Central Registration District ( 1936 - 1974 )
Devon Registration District ( 2007 - )
Devonport Registration District ( 1898 - 1937 )
East Devon Registration District ( 1998 - 2007 )
East Stonehouse Registration District ( 1837 - 1937 )
Exeter Registration District ( 1837 - 2007 )
Holsworthy Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
Honiton Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
Kingsbridge Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
Mid Devon Registration District ( 1978 - 2007 )
Newton Abbot Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
North Devon Registration District ( 1998 - 2007 )
Okehampton Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
Plymouth Registration District ( 1837 - )
Plympton Registration District ( 1936 - 1974 )
Plympton St. Mary Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
South Hams Registration District ( 1998 - 2007 )
South Molton Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
St. Thomas Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Stoke Damerel Registration District ( 1837 - 1898 )
Tavistock Registration District ( 1837 - 1998 )
Teignbridge Registration District ( 1998 - 2007 )
Tiverton Registration District ( 1837 - 1978 )
Torbay Registration District ( 1968 - )
Torridge Registration District ( 1998 - 2007 )
Torrington Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Totnes Registration District ( 1837 - 1968 )
West Devon Registration District ( 1998 - 2007 )
Rural district
Axminster Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Barnstaple Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Bideford Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Broadwoodwidger Rural ( 1894 - 1966 )
Crediton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Culmstock Rural ( 1894 - 1935 )
Holsworthy Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Honiton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Kingsbridge Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Newton Abbot Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Okehampton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Plympton St. Mary Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
South Molton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
St. Thomas Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Tavistock Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Tiverton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Torrington Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Totnes Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Suburb
Cockington ( - 1928 )
East Stonehouse
Heavitree
Milber ( 1901 - )
Plympton St. Mary
St. Budeaux ( - 1951 )
St. Marychurch
Unitary authority
Plymouth Unitary Authority ( 1967 - )
Torbay Unitary Authority ( 1968 - )
Unknown
Corypole
Mariston
Thewborough
Urban district
Ashburton
Axminster ( 1844 - )
Bampton
Brixham ( 1200 - )
Buckfastleigh
Budleigh Salterton
Cockington ( - 1928 )
Crediton
Dawlish
East Stonehouse
Exmouth
Heavitree
Holsworthy
Ilfracombe
Ivybridge
Kingsbridge
Lynton
Newton Abbot
Northam
Ottery St. Mary
Salcombe
Seaton
Sidmouth
St. Marychurch
St. Thomas the Apostle ( - 1900 )
Tavistock


source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
source: Family History Library Catalog
the following text is based on an article in Wikipedia

Devon (historically also known as Devonshire) is a county in the southwest of England, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. It is bounded by Cornwall to the west, Somerset to the northeast, and Dorset to the east. In its entirety, including sections which are unitary authorities or near unitary authorities, its area is 6,707 km2 (2,590 square miles), and its population is about 1.1 million.

The City of Exeter is the county town; seven other districts of East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, and West Devon are under the jurisdiction of Devon County Council; the large conurbations of Plymouth and Torbay are each a part of Devon but administered as unitary authorities although Torbay is considered to be a county in its own right. Image:Devon districts wikimedia revised.png

Devon derives its name from Dumnonia, which, during the British Iron Age and Roman Britain, was the homeland of the Dumnonii Celts. The Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain resulted in the partial assimilation of Dumnonia into the Kingdom of Wessex during the eighth and ninth centuries. The western boundary with Cornwall was set at the River Tamar by King Æthelstan in 936. Devon was constituted as a shire of the Kingdom of England thereafter.

Geographically, Devon is the only county of England to have non-continuous stretches of coastline to both the north and south. Both coastlines include cliffs and sandy shores; Devon's bays have historically contained ports, fishing towns and seaside resorts. The county's inland terrain is rural, generally hilly, and has a low population density in comparison to many other parts of England. Dartmoor, the largest open space in southern England at 954 km2 (368 square miles), is covered with wide moorland and underlying granite geology; to its north are the Culm measures and Exmoor. In the valleys and lowlands of south and east Devon the soil is more fertile, traversed by rivers such as the Exe, the Culm, the Dart, and the Otter.

Today the economy of Devon is linked closely with tourism. The comparatively mild climate, coastline and landscape give rise to Devon as a destination for recreation and leisure in England, with visitors particularly attracted to the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks; the coasts of north, south and east Devon which include the resort towns along the south coast known collectively as the English Riviera, the Jurassic Coast, and North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; and the countryside including the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape.

History

Toponomy

The term "Devon" is normally used for everyday purposes e.g. "Devon County Council", and in providing adddresses on letters, etc., but the somewhat archaic "Devonshire" continues to be used in the names of the "Devonshire and Dorset Regiment" (until 2007) and "The Devonshire Association". WeRelate only recognizes "Devon".

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Devon.

Human occupation

The border with Cornwall was set by King Æthelstan on the east bank of the River Tamar in 936 AD. Danish raids also occurred sporadically along many coastal parts of Devon between around 800AD and just before the time of the Norman conquest, including the silver mint at Hlidaforda Lydford in 997 and Taintona (a settlement on the Teign estuary) in 1001.

Devon has also featured in most of the civil conflicts in England since the Norman conquest, including the Wars of the Roses, Perkin Warbeck's rising in 1497, the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549, and the English Civil War. The arrival of William of Orange to launch the Glorious Revolution of 1688 took place at Brixham (now part of Torbay.

Devon has produced tin, copper and other metals from ancient times. Devon's tin miners enjoyed a substantial degree of independence through Devon's Stannary Parliament, which dates back to the 12th century, but the last recorded sitting was in 1748.

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Devon.

Governance

Over time, the county of Devon, like most counties in England, has been divided into sections in four different ways. The first divisions were called hundreds and existed well into the 19th century. Each hundred included a number of parishes. Many parishes were divided into chapelries and townships. The township appears to be less prevalent in Devon than in other counties. Hundreds were basically a civil means of division, but the parishes within them were ecclesiastical parishes.

Hundreds

Historically Devon was divided into 32 hundreds which are listed on the column on the right.

Poor Law Unions and Registration Districts

These began to be established around 1837 at the same time as the system of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths was introduced. The Registration Districts and (Sub Registration Districts) established where people were to go to advise the authorities that one of these events had occurred. The Registration Districts were also responsible for the censuses that occurred every ten years from 1841. The Poor Law Unions were unions of parishes responsible for caring for the destitute of an area, with the most distressed being brought together in workhouses. In 1866 national legislation established the civil parish structure.

Boroughs, Urban Districts and Rural Districts

Municipal boroughs were local governments for large towns and cities introduced in the 1830s. Over the remainder of the 19th century they increased in number. County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in England to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. There was a minimum population size of 50,000 for a county borough.

In 1894 the part of the country outside of boroughs was divided up into urban and rural district councils. Most urban districts were made up of only one civil parish (though two adjoining parishes sometimes merged to make one urban district), a rural district included, for the most part, a number of small civil parishes. The Poor Law Unions were gradually abolished as the urban and rural districts came into being. Registration district boundaries were redrawn as population densities changed. During the 1930s many changes occurred in the makeup of both urban and rural districts. The development of communication (such as the telephone and the motor car) in the period 1900-1930 led to a reduction in the number of bodies necessary to govern a local area.

The Modern Districts

In 1974 boroughs, urban districts and rural districts were all abolished and counties were re-divided into non-metropolitan, metropolitan districts and unitary authorities. Some counties, but not Devon, were divided into smaller counties. All this was made possible by changes in technology and communication over the previous century. It was more possible to contact another person living miles away and to provide local governmental services to a much larger area. Whereas Devon had 32 hundreds at the beginning of the 19th century, by the end of the 20th century it had ten non-metropolitan districts and unitary authorities.

Research Tips

(revised Jul 2021)

  • Ordnance Survey Map of Devonshire North and Devonshire South are large-scale maps covering the whole of Devon between them. They show the parish boundaries when Rural Districts were still in existence and before the mergers of parishes that took place in 1935 and 1974. When expanded the maps can show many of the small villages and hamlets inside the parishes. These maps are now downloadable for personal use but they can take up a lot of computer memory.
  • GENUKI has a selection of maps showing the boundaries of parishes in the 19th century. The contribution from "Know Your Place" on Devon is a huge website yet to be discovered in detail by this contributor.
  • Devon has three repositories for hands-on investigation of county records. Each has a website which holds their catalog of registers and other documents.
  • There is, however, a proviso regarding early records for Devon. Exeter was badly hit in a "blitz" during World War II and the City Library, which then held the county archives, was burnt out. About a million books and historic documents went up in smoke. While equivalent records--particularly wills--are quite easy to come by for other English counties, some records for Devon and surrounding counties do not exist.
  • Devon Family History Society Mailing address: PO Box 9, Exeter, EX2 6YP, United Kingdom. The society has branches in various parts of the county. It is the largest Family History Society in the United Kingdom. The website has a handy guide to each of the parishes in the county and publishes the registers for each of the Devon dioceses on CDs.
  • This is the home page to the GENUKI Devon website. It has been updated since 2015 and includes a lot of useful information on each parish.
  • Devon has a Online Parish Clerk (OPC) Project which can be reached through GENUKI. Only about half of the parishes have a volunteer contributing local data. For more information, consult the website, especially the list at the bottom of the homepage.
  • Magna Britannia, Volume 6 by Daniel Lysons and Samuel Lysons. A general and parochial history of the county. Originally published by T Cadell and W Davies, London, 1822, and placed online by British History Online. This is a volume of more than 500 pages of the history of Devon, parish by parish. It is 100 years older than the Victoria County Histories available for some other counties, but equally thorough in its coverage. Contains information that may have been swept under the carpet in more modern works.
  • There is a cornucopia of county resources at Devon Heritage. Topics are: Architecture, Census, Devon County, the Devonshire Regiment, Directory Listings, Education, Genealogy, History, Industry, Parish Records, People, Places, Transportation, War Memorials. There are fascinating resources you would never guess that existed from those topic titles. (NOTE: There may be problems reaching this site. One popular browser provider has put a block on it. This may be temporary, or it may be its similarity in name to the Devon Heritage Centre at Exeter.)
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