Oxford: History, Former Names & Timeline
University town on the upper Thames, home of the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and Charles I’s capital during the Civil War.
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Former names of Oxford
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| AD 900 | Oxenaforda | “ford of the oxen” |
| 1200 | Oxford |
Timeline of Oxford
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| AD 912 | Oxford first appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle |
| 1096 | Teaching is recorded in Oxford (about this date) |
| 1167 | Henry II bars English students from Paris and the university grows quickly |
| 1555 | Latimer and Ridley are burned for heresy |
| 1602 | The Bodleian Library opens |
| 1642 | Civil war breaks out and Charles I makes Oxford his headquarters |
Who ruled Oxford
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–401 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 400 BC–2 BC | Celts |
| 1 BC–99 | Unclaimed / no data |
| 100–299 | Roman Empire |
| 300–399 | Rome (Constantinus) |
| 400–499 | Western Roman Empire |
| 500–599 | Anglo-Saxons |
| 600–799 | Cantia |
| 800–999 | Mercia |
| 1000–1199 | England |
| 1200–1299 | Angevin Empire |
| 1300–1491 | English territory |
| 1492–1599 | England |
| 1600–1782 | England and Ireland |
| 1783–1814 | United Kingdom |
| 1815–1937 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| 1938–today | United Kingdom |
Battles and sites near Oxford
- Runnymede · 1215
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Oxford
What was Oxford called in the past?
Oxford has been known as Oxenaforda (from AD 900, “ford of the oxen”). Its present name dates from 1200.
Which states have ruled Oxford?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Oxford lies within 13 different states: Celts, Roman Empire, Rome (Constantinus), Western Roman Empire, Anglo-Saxons, Cantia, Mercia, England, Angevin Empire, English territory and others.
What are the key dates in the history of Oxford?
AD 912: Oxford first appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1096: Teaching is recorded in Oxford (about this date). 1167: Henry II bars English students from Paris and the university grows quickly. 1555: Latimer and Ridley are burned for heresy. 1602: The Bodleian Library opens.
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.