The breed was started about the year 1900 in northwest Germany and especially in Lower Saxony. The existing swine supplied the original seed stock and improvement was made by farmer breeders through careful selection.

Although if old paintings are to be trusted, there have been spotted pigs around for two or three centuries, the Gloucestershire Old Spots has only had pedigree status since the early 20th century.

Guinea hogs, or Guinea Forest hogs, most likely originated on the Guinea coast of Africa and were spread widely though the slave trade from Africa to England, France, Spain, and America.