UK Census additional snippets sheet
Prior to the national census for England and Wales there were private censuses taken by politicians or
landowners. These include:
 1659 Irish Census transcriptions (www.clanmaclochlainn.com/1659cen.htm).
 1790 Corfe Castle & District, Dorset (William Morton Pitt) transcribed by Dorset FHS
(www.findmypast.co.uk/search/other-records/corfe-castle-census).
 There is also an ongoing project to transcribe all pre-1841 censuses for Devon. Completed
transcriptions can be found at http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/DevonMisc/Pre-1841Census.html.
 A transcription of the 1801 census of Dublin can be found at www.fdca.org.uk/Burgh_records.html.
 The University of Essex has a really useful article listing surviving pre-1841 censuses can be found at
www.essex.ac.uk/history/Staff_Research/working-papers/MW-RW-BM.pdf.
 Other censuses might also be found on www.censusfinder.com including 1881 Hope, Derbyshire, 1821
Orkney and Killynure, Cavan.
Other sources include taxation, church and property records from as early as the 1300s. These include
parish chest records, Easter offerings, land and property leases, Hearth Tax returns 1662-1689, Cap Money
records 1571, Poll Taxes, Manorial records, Pauper Lists, Poor Law Settlements, Farm Lists.
The UK censuses 1801 to 1831 only named the heads of household and very few survive. The 1800
Population Act launched the enterprise. In 1803 the Privy Council ordered censuses to be taken to identify
all men between 15 and 60 as a precaution against possible French invasions. Responsibility for collection
fell to the local overseers for the poor and clergymen of the parish. The 1801 census included ‘dog-owners’
in line with the unpopular Dog Tax 1796-1882.
Some believe the 1801 Census was heavily influenced by Thomas Malthus and his interest in population
trends, but the government of the day was keener on issues around feeding its people. The 1831 census
for Nether Hallam, Sheffield can be found to search on http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/articles/worldrecords/full-list-of-united-kingdom-records/census-land-and-surveys/census/nether-hallam-sheffield1831-census; http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/other-records/nether-hallam-census. See also
www.sheffieldfhs.org.uk.
Due to WW1 there was a census for national registration taken in 1915 census Everyone born between 16
Aug 1850 and 15 Aug 1900 was enumerated. Details included:
Surname
age last birthday
how many children under 15
first name
nationality
dependants over 15
permanent address
single/married or widower
how many other dependants
(wholly dependent / partially
present address if away from
occupation
dependant)
home
employed by government?
name business and address of
skilled in any other occupation
employer
The 1921 census will not be made available to the public until Jan 2022. The details so far know are as
follows: The 1921 Census for England, Wales and Scotland was taken on the night of Sunday 19th June
1921. It had been originally planned that the census would be taken on the night of 24th April 1921 but
this was delayed because of strikes.
Extra questions asked included
 whether a marriage has been dissolved by divorce
 where each person works
 the industry within which someone works
The campaigner, Guy Etchells (http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/forum/topic7411.html) ,
claims that there is no guarantee that the 1921 census will ever be released as the 1920 Census Act forbids
it. We await the truth of time I guess.
The 1931 census for England & Wales would have been available for public access in 2032 or perhaps
earlier if rules were to be changed. However, on Saturday 19 Dec 1942, a fire in Hayes, Middlesex
completely destroyed all the schedules, enumeration books and plans of the 1931 census.
An additional FREE census search is to be found at http://www.ukcensusonline.com. They also have a
useful FAQ page for further information.
CENSUS DATES
Tuesday, 10 March 1801
Sunday, 6 June 1841
Sunday, 3 April 1881
Monday, 27 May 1811
Sunday, 30 March 1851
Sunday, 5 April 1891
Monday, 28 May 1821
Sunday, 7 April 1861
Sunday, 31 March 1901
Monday, 30 May 1831
Sunday, 2 April 1871
Sunday, 2 April 1911
The 1939 National Enumeration Register
Collected on the doorstep this survey undergirded the issue of identity cards and ration books of WW2.
The number issued to each person later became their NHS number from 1948. The register was archived in
1952 when ID cards were withdrawn. Under the Freedom of Information campaigns this data is now
available on payment of £42 for England and Wales and via the GRO for Scotland for £13. Clear guidelines
as to how to apply are found on pages 48-49 of Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, Issue 35, June 2010.
This survey is helpful because it states who normally lived at a given address rather than the census
question of who was present on the night of the census. You can only get another person’s record if you
have proof of their death. Information found is only sent to you as a transcription and includes name,
national registration number, date of birth, address, marital status, and occupation. Any names at the
address who are still living will not be included. See www.ic.nhs.uk/services/1939-register-service.
Many agricultural labourers may be missing or found in a neighbouring village from the 1841 census as it
was taken on a harvest night. Seamen at sea were also not enumerated. The census was taken in pencil so
many of the surviving records are very faded. Over 15s ages were generally rounded down to the nearest 5
years.
1n 1851 Seamen were enumerated and more precise details were sought. There were few changes to the
census between 1861 and 1881 but the familiarity by then of the census might promise more accuracy.
Ship censuses can be found at findmypast under ‘Country’.
In 1891 employment status was added or those giving occupations. In 1901 ‘number of rooms occupied if
less than 5’ was added. More about housing in 1901 can be found at
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/census/living/live/home.htm.
1911 saw the most radical changes to the census. Sadly many refused to take part such as suffragettes. In
addition we find nationality, duration of current marriage, number of children n born to that marriage,
how many still live and how many have died. It was signed by the one completing the form.
Census Jargon Buster





Ditto, do, “ = the same as above.
Abbreviated names = First and middle names may be shortened to ‘WM’ for William, ‘Chas’ for Charles,
‘Jas’ for James, Elizth’ for Elizabeth.
Occupational abbreviations = ‘Ag Lab’ for agricultural labourer, ‘FS’ for female servant. ‘dom serv’ for
domestic servant.
Slash marks = double slash (//) indicate the end of one property. A single slash is a separate household
within the same property.
Crossings out = usually marks made when the information was being collated and does NOT mean
anything was wrong.
Census search tips:
1. Enter as little information as necessary so you do not remove alternatives. Spelling or order of names
may vary so be ready to try several.
2. Use variations and wildcards – Wildcards use an asterix to replace letters. For example Ann* will search
for Ann, Anne, Annie; S*mpson will find Simpsonj and Sampson. Using ‘Soundex’ allows for spellings of
a word that sound the same – Taylor might also offer Naylor, Gaylor and Tayler.
3. Look for someone else in the family if the one you seek is not showing. This might at least bring up the
household you are seeking even if your name is not present.
4. Find the censuses on each side, before and after to ensure you have as much clarity as possible. Check
on local directories to find when the family might have moved house.
5. Try other websites to see if they pick up your ancestor better.
Familysearch offers transcriptions to the following UK censuses for free:
1841; 1851; 1861; 1871; 1881; 1891. Each census is transcribed with every member of the household
given, except the 1871 where it gives only the person you have named.
FreeCen offers transcriptions for 1841; 1851; 1861; 1871; 1881; 1891 too though not all counties have
been completed by the volunteers as yet.
Resources list:
Who Do You Think You Are magazine – issues 30, 35, 46, 56, 67
Your Family Tree Magazine – issues 86, 94, 100, 102, 104, 107, 111, 112, 113, 115, 119
www.ancestry.co.uk
www.findmypast.co.uk
www.thegenealogist.co.uk
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (Scottish censuses 1841-1911)
www.census.nationalarchives.ie (Irish censuses 1901-1911)
www.ukcensusonline.com
Family Tree Magazine has an online index that might offer details of what can be found on back issues. It
can be found at www.family-tree.co.uk/index/index_list.php. A search for census will also bring up minicensuses across the UK. I currently hold the following issues I am willing to loan:
Jan-Dec 2006; Jan to Dec 2007; Jan to Dec 2008; June 2009; Jan 2010; Apr, May, July, Oct 2011; Jan, Feb,
July, Oct to Dec 2012; Jan, Mar 2013.
Jeremy Gibson & Mervyn Medlycott, Local Census Listings 1522-1930: Holdings in the British Isles. Gibson
Guides, 3rd Edition, FFHS, 1997.