Famous for its university, the city of Cambridge (although it only became a city officially in 1951 as it does not have a cathedral) has its roots in prehistoric times. The Saxons named it Grantabrycge (‘Bridge over the river Granta’). Under Viking rule it became an important trading centre. When the Saxons returned, they built churches such as St Benet’s Church (the city’s oldest surviving building), wharves, merchant houses and a mint. In 1068, William of Normandy built a castle in the city.

The first town charter was granted by Henry I between 1120 and 1131. It gave Cambridge monopoly of waterborne traffic and hithe tolls as well as recognising the Borough court. In 1209, Cambridge University was founded by students escaping from hostile townspeople in Oxford.

In 1349 Cambridge was badly affected by the Black Death, with the town north of the river almost wiped out. In 1382 a revised town charter proposes a “diminution of the liberties that the community had enjoyed”, due to its participation in the Peasants’ Revolt.

Following numerous deaths in the town due to plague, sanitation and fresh water was brought to Cambridge through the construction of Hobson’s Conduit in the early 1600s.

Cambridge played a significant role in the early part of the English Civil War as it was the headquarters of the Eastern Counties Association, which became the mainstay of the Parliamentarian military effort prior to the formation of the New Model Army. Cromwell had studied at the University’s Sidney Sussex College.

In the 19th century, in common with many other English towns, Cambridge expanded, due in part to increased life expectancy and also improved agricultural production leading to increased trade in town markets. Inclosure Acts of 1801 and 1807 enabled expansion of the town over surrounding open fields.

The railway came to Cambridge in 1845 after initially being resisted, with the opening of the Great Eastern London to Norwich line. The train link to London stimulated heavier industries, such as the production of brick, cement and malt.

Census data provided to us exclusively by data websiteTheGenealogist.co.ukgenerally reflects trades servicing the local population, however, such as agricultural labourers, tailors and shoemakers, publicans and bakers in 1841. By 1911, shop assistants and domestic servants (many in colleges) predominate, though lodging house keepers reflect the town’s transient population; there are also many bricklayers.

During World War Two, Cambridge was an important centre for defence of the east coast. The town itself escaped relatively lightly from German bombing raids, which were mainly targeted at the railway. During the war Cambridge served as an evacuation centre for over 7,000 people from London.

Census data from TheGenealogist also reveals common surnames in the city over time. These include Chapman, Clark(e), Carter, Newman, Thompson and King. In 1841, Gray, Bell, Webb, Barker and Cook were also common; as were Baker, Ward, Allen and Reynolds by 1911.

Cambridge has many museums (see here) including the Cambridge & County Folk Museum in Castle Street. Cambridgeshire Archives are in the Shire Hall on Castle Hill.