Birmingham (UK) was founded as a small Saxon settlement, but its development as a town began in 1166 when Peter de Bermingham obtained a charter from King Henry II to hold a market at his castle. The de Bermingham family held the manor for 400 years, establishing the town as a commercial hub.
The club was founded in already in 1875 (one year after Aston Villa) as Small Heath Alliance by members of the Holy Trinity Church favoring cricket mong sports as mny was at this time in England. The club would 30 years later be renamed as Birmingham (“City” would be added to the name additionally 30 years later).
In the Saxon 6th Century Birmingham was just one small settlement in thick forest - the home (ham) of the tribe (ing) of a leader called Birm or Beorma.
Birmingham, Alabama was named after Birmingham, England (the UK's second largest city). It may not be that surprising given our British namesake was a major industrial center which city founders wanted to achieve here with iron and steel production.
Yet Birmingham, the Black Country, and many more dialects in the West Midlands kept these old vowel sounds the way they were—it's why the word 'tea' sounds more like 'tay' here. Our best guess is that 'mom' is actually closer to an older pronunciation of 'mother'/'mum', and as such, probably the more correct way!
The name “Black Country” is believed to have originated in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1862, Elihu Burritt, the American Consul to Birmingham, called the area “black by day and red by night”, after the thick black smog rising from local foundries and the colour of the furnaces that glowed at night.
The oldest city in the UK is widely considered to be Colchester, in Essex, recognized as Britain's oldest recorded town and former Roman capital, officially gaining city status in 2022, though with continuous occupation and Roman origins dating back centuries before that. Its claim stems from being the first Roman colony, Camulodunum, mentioned in ancient texts (around 43 AD) and as a significant Iron Age center.
Is Birmingham still the 2nd largest city in the UK?
Yes, Birmingham remains the UK's second-largest city by population within its city limits, often called the "Second City," although Greater Manchester's wider urban area has a larger population, leading to some confusion depending on the definition used, but Birmingham consistently ranks second after London for city proper population.
Etymology. The name Digbeth is derived from "dig path". However, Digbeth is also believed to have originally been called 'Duck's bath' in reflection of the water supply in the area. It has also been suggested that it comes from "dragon's breath", referring to air pollution during the industrial revolution.
The name allegedly came from a chant of "Zulu, Zulu" which Manchester City fans aimed at Birmingham in 1982, due to their multicultural following. However, both the "Zulu" chant and the term "Zulu Warriors", in the context of a fan following rather than as an organised gang, were in use from at least the mid 1970s.
US-based Shelby Companies Limited (SCL) has completed its full takeover of Birmingham City after acquiring the remaining 51.1% of shares in the previously Chinese-owned club.
Colchester is Britain's first Roman city, with a 2000 year heritage. Pliny the Elder immortalised Camulodunum, Roman Colchester, as Britain's first recorded settlement and later Britain's first city and capital.
According to Seasia Stats, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world is Jericho, Palestine, which dates back to around 9000 BCE. Often called the “City of Palm Trees,” Jericho holds deep historical and archaeological significance, with ancient ruins that tell stories from the dawn of human settlement.
With just 400 residents, Fordwich, near Canterbury, is smaller than most villages. But as Sara Thornton discovers in the latest of BBC South East's On The Map series - it's a town. It's actually Britain's smallest town, but it's history is no less rich because of that.
The Brummie dialect, or more formally the Birmingham dialect, is spoken by many people in Birmingham, England, and some of its surrounding area. "Brummie" is also a demonym for people from Birmingham.
Birmingham, as a place name, pops up all over the place, from Connecticut to Iowa. Birmingham, Alabama, however, is a busy, modern metropolis that was founded in 1871. Birmingham is also the name of the UK's second-most populous city.
Around 17% of Birmingham's population is Pakistani, making it the largest single ethnic minority group, according to the 2021 Census. This translates to approximately 195,000 Pakistani residents in the city, with significant communities in areas like Sparkhill where they form a majority of the population.
