Badminton (population 271) is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It includes Great Badminton and Little Badminton. In 1612 Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester, bought from Nicholas Boteler his mansions of Great as well as Little Badminton, called Madmintune in the Domesday Book while one century earlier the name Badimyncgtun was recorded, held by that household because 1275. The town houses the Duke of Beaufort's house, Badminton House, which has actually been the primary seat of the Somerset household since the late 17th century. Badminton House likewise offers its name to the sporting activity of badminton. The town is popular for its horse tests, which happen in very early May every year in the premises of Badminton House.