Berkeley was the only son and heir of Sir Henry Berkeley (died 1606) of Stoke Gifford and Rendcomb[2] (son of Sir Richard Berkeley (1531–1604) of Stoke Gifford, who in 1553 rebuilt the manor house at Stoke Gifford (rebuilt again in 1750 as survives today) and whose effigy survives in the Gaunt's Chapel in Bristol) by his wife Muriel Throckmorton, a daughter of Thomas Throckmorton (1534-1615), of Coughton Court,[3] Warwickshire, twice MP for Warwickshire (in 1558 and 1559) eldest son and heir of Sir Robert Throckmorton (d.1581) of Coughton by his wife Muriel Berkeley, a daughter of Thomas Berkeley, de jure 5th Baron Berkeley (1472-1532).
He matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford on 4 February 1592 aged 12.
On 1 August 1649, he was to be discharged on payment of £60 but, on 5 December 1651, he was ordered to pay £80 extra on old rent.
Having paid it, on 30 January 1652 his assessment of £100 was discharged and sequestration was taken off his estate.
[7] Berkeley married twice: His mural monument survives in St Michael's Church, Stoke Gifford, Gloucestershire, inscribed on a brass tablet as follows: