It originated in the counties of Devon and Cornwall in south-west England, and is mentioned from the eighteenth century.

[4]: 303  How it developed is not known; one theory is that it arose from cross-breeding between local Devon stock and Channel Islands cattle such as the Alderney.

[4]: 303 The South Devon Herd Book Society of England was formed, and published the first edition of the herdbook in 1891.

[7] Until the early part of the nineteenth century the South Devon was a triple-purpose animal, kept for its milk, for meat and for draught work.

[4]: 303 Approximately 37% of the population carries the 11-bp genetic mutation which causes bovine muscular hypertrophy (or more properly hyperplasia), which in the area of origin of the breed is known as "buffalo".