Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, and Dorset and Somerset to the east. It is unique among English counties, in that it has two separated coastlines, on the English Channel and Bristol Channel branches of the Atlantic. Devonshire is a common but entirely unofficial alternative name, often indicating a traditional or historical context.

William Camden, in his 1607 edition of “Britannia”, provides an etymological explanation for the name of the county where he also describes Devon as being one part of an older, wider country that once included Cornwall, which:

“was in ancient time inhabited by those Britains whom Solinus called Dunmonii, Ptolomee Damnonii, or (as we find in some other copies) more truly Danmonii. ... . But... the Country of this nation is at this day divided into two parts, known by later names of Cornwall and Denshire [Devonshire] ... The near or hithermore region of the Danmonians that I spake of is now commonly called Denshire, [or] by the Cornish-Britains ‘Dewnan’, and by the Welsh Britains ‘Duffneint’, that is, ‘low valleys’, for that the people dwell for the most part beneath in Vales; by the English Saxons [it is known as] ‘Deven-schire’, whereof grew the Latin name ‘Devonia’, and by that contraction which the vulgar people useth, ‘Denshire’.”

Devon is the third largest of the English counties, with a population of 1,109,900. The county town is the cathedral city of Exeter, and the county contains two independent unitary authorities, the port city of Plymouth and the Torbay conurbation of seaside resorts, in addition to Devon County Council itself. Much of the county is rural or National Park land (365 square miles, or 945 km, are occupied by Dartmoor), and it has consequently, by British standards, a low population density.

The Dorset and East Devon Coast, known as the Jurassic Coast for its geology and geographical features, is the only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in England. Geologically, Devon, along with its neighbour Cornwall, is known as the "Cornubian massif". This geology gives rise to the landscapes of Dartmoor and Exmoor, both National Parks. Devon has seaside resorts and historic towns and cities, plus a mild climate, accounting for the large tourist sector of its economy.

There is some dispute over the use of 'Devonshire' instead of Devon, and there is no official recognition of the term 'Devonshire' in modern times. One theory is that the 'shire' suffix is due to a mistake in the making of the original letters patent for the Duke of Devonshire, resident in Derbyshire. However, there are references to 'Defenascire' in old English texts from before 1000AD, which translates to modern English as 'Devonshire'. The term Devonshire may have originated around the 8th century, when it changed from Dumnonia to Defensascir.

Devon (born on March 28 1977 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American pornographic actress.

Devon Martin (born 1963 in England), who performed as Devon, was a Canadian rapper who gained notoriety for a controversial song about police racism, "Mr. Metro", in 1990.

Martin was raised in Malton, Ontario, a Toronto suburb, and formed his first band, Shock Waves, at the age of 14, releasing an independent single in 1977. He was subsequently a member of the reggae band 20th Century Rebels, and a supporting musician for Bong Conga Nistas, Messenjah and Lillian Allen.

He released his first solo album, It's My Nature in 1992. He won the Juno Award for Best Rap Recording in 1993.

He now is a police officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police stationed in Surrey B.C.

Devon Song ( ; born December 20, 1980, in Taiwan) is the lead male vocalist in the popular Taiwanese band Nan Quan Ma Ma. He is shown to be an avid basketball player as can be seen in several of their music videos, and also plays the drums.

He is also very well acquainted with Jay Chou, starring in several of the Asian pop king's music videos, as well as playing a small role in his feature length film "Secret".