In 1086 William the Conqueror ordered a survey of England to access the extent
of his own possessions and the value of the estates, for taxation purposes,
of his tenants in chief. The result of this survey produced what is known
as the Domesday Book, which in fact runs to five volumes.
The volumes are arranged county by county, and then under the headings of
the tenants in chief. The only named persons are the tenants and their
sub-tenants.