The Berkeley family is an ancient English noble family. It is one of only four families in England that can trace its patrilineal descent back to Anglo-Saxon times (the other three being the Arden family, the Swinton family and the Wentworth family). The Berkeley family retains possession of much of the lands it held from the 11th and 12th centuries, centred on

Berkeley Castle Berkeley Castle ( ; historically sometimes spelled as ''Berkley Castle'' or ''Barkley Castle'') is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. The castle's origins date back to the 11th century, and it has been desi ...

in Gloucestershire, which still belongs to the family.

History

The Berkeley family descends in the male line from

Robert Fitzharding Robert Fitzharding (c. 1095–1170) was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman from Bristol who was granted the feudal barony of Berkeley in Gloucestershire. He rebuilt Berkeley Castle, and founded the Berkeley family which still occupies it today. He was a w ...

(d. 1170), 1st feudal baron of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, reputedly the son of

Harding of Bristol Harding of Bristol (c. 1048 – c. 1125) was sheriff reeve of Bristol, with responsibility for managing a manorial estate and perhaps similar duties to those of a magistrate. He was the son of Eadnoth the Constable, an Anglo-Saxon thane who serve ...

, the son of Eadnoth the Constable (Alnod), a high official under King Edward the Confessor.

, the ''

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