Rutland is the smallest county in England. The surface is diversified by gently rising hills and fine valleys, and is watered by the Eye Brook, the Chater, and the Gwash, flowing into the Welland, which forms the south-eastern boundary. The chief crops are wheat and barley.
Great attention is paid to rearing choice breeds both of cattle and sheep.
In the Vale of Catmose, round Oakham, are tracts of woodland, the remains of old forests. The prevailing rock is limestone. Rutland was made a county by Henry III., and gives the title of duke to the family of Manners. It is in the diocese of Peterborough. Here is a surnames list , compiled by Stephen R. Wells, cataloguing the Rutland-related research interests of a number of Internet users.