Knowledge base
1841-1901 censuses
1. Census Records – England and Wales
Census - introduction
Census records are an invaluable resource for anyone tracing their family tree as they provide us with a snapshot of history at a particular point in time.
If you have so far traced your ancestors using birth, marriage and death records and you have drawn up a family chart of key dates and individuals, your next step should be searching the census returns, as this is the information that will help bring your ancestors to life.
Census returns can not only help us determine who our ancestors were, but they can also tell us.
- Where our ancestors were living
- Who they were living with
- What their occupations were
- If they had any servants
- Who their neighbours were
- If they had any brothers and sisters
- What their ages were at the time of the census
- If they had any disabilities.
A census return can also provide us with small details such as streets that existed that perhaps no longer exist, to large chunks of information such as the number of men, women and children in England and Wales at that particular point in time.
As well as giving us the above useful information, the fact that census returns are taken every ten years also allows us to track the movements of our ancestors as they perhaps move house, get married, have children or even change occupations.
Census - the origins
The 1800 Population Act initiated the holding of decennial (ten year) censuses which increased in sophistication and amount of information obtained as they developed throughout the 19th century.
However, censuses were being taken long before this, and Enumerations were even more common. Governments have long been interested in surveying their resources in land goods or people.
One of the earliest censuses must be that of the Children of Israel in 1200BC. There is also evidence of the Romans conducting censuses every 5 /14 years; sadly, however, these rarely contained lists of names.
The Domesday Book and beyond
The earliest of the surviving British population listings must be the Domesday Book, compiled between 1086 and about 1088. The exact purpose of the survey is unclear, but it was probably intended to be the basis for taxation.
The Book compares landholding and possessions under Edward the Confessor (died 1065), with the situation in 1086 under William the Conqueror.
Parts of the country were not surveyed, especially in the far north, where William the Conqueror"s authority was weak, and the returns for some large towns, including London and Winchester, were not written up into the final version.
Following the Domesday Book, many lists were made throughout the British Isles. Both the Church and the State – which at certain times were inseparable – conducted surveys of the people, mainly for raising revenue particularly in time of war or unrest.
These were mostly organised locally, covering a specific area and, where surviving, will mostly be found amongst the Quarter Sessions records in local archives and record offices.
Population problem
However, by the 1790s things began to change. Britain was still in the throes of the Industrial Revolution, which had begun in the 1740s - the numerous inventions and techniques permanently transforming the British Isles. Britain had been at war with France for most of the 1790s, creating a real need to know exactly how many eligible fighting men there were.
It was also a time of bad harvests and food shortages. In 1798 things came to a head when Thomas Malthus published his essay on the "Principle of Population". It caused great concern by suggesting that population growth would soon outstrip supplies of food and other resources, ‘causing Britain to be hit by disease, famine and other disasters".
Frightened by this alarmist view of the future, Parliament passed the Census Act in 1800 and the first full official census in England and Wales was taken on 10 March 1801.
Information was collected from every household by the Overseers of the Poor; they were aided by constables, tithingmen, headboroughs and other officers of the peace. This first official head count revealed Britain"s population to be nine million.
An army of clerks using only pens and paper processed information about every person in the land. Technology did not reach the census until 1911 when punch cards and mechanical sorting were introduced. Computers were first used in 1961 and now play an essential role.
The census as we know it
The 1841 census is regarded as the first modern census, when the first Registrar General of England and Wales was made responsible for organising the count.
The task of counting was passed to local officers of the newly created registration service. This is the earliest census that has survived in its entirety: few of the 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 censuses have survived the ravages of time.
1841 was the first time that the head of each household was given a form to fill in on behalf of everyone in the dwelling on a set day. This system still forms the basis of the method used today.
Since 1801 there has been a census every 10 years except for 1941, during the Second World War. Although the basic principle remains unchanged, new questions have been added whilst some have been removed. Until 1911 the Government needed to introduce a new Census Act for every census held.
Since the passage of the 1920 Census Act the law has supported census taking in Great Britain, making it possible for the Government to hold a census at any time.
Every household must now return a completed form by law. Failure to make a completed return or giving false information is now an offence, and attracted a fine of up to £1,000 by the time of the 2001 census.
The law protects the confidentiality of the census. The 1920 Census Act prohibited the unlawful disclosure of any information given in the census, determining that the information collected would only be used to produce statistics, and no information would be released which allowed the identification of any individual or household.
The census information is not available to be viewed by the public for 100 years, however, the 1911 census has been released online three years early, except for some sensitive information that has been redacted until 2012.
Maggie Loughran is Administrator of the Federation of Family History Societies, and is currently Chairman of the Earlsdon Society (a local history group). Maggie regularly contributes to journals and magazines and has been a family and local history consultant for the History Channel. Maggie has also lectured widely on family and local history, both in England and North America.
Past census returns - years and dates
A census of the population of England and Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles has been taken every ten years since 1801, except in 1941 during the Second World War.
As census returns are subject to public closure for 100 years because of the potentially sensitive personal information they contain, the English and Welsh census returns that are currently available to the public are as follows:
1841 - taken on 7 June
1851 - taken on 30 March
1861 - taken on 7 April
1871 - taken on 2 April
1881 - taken on 3 April
1891 - taken on 5 April
1901 - taken on 31 March
1911 - taken on 2 April
Whilst the census returns for 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 were not preserved in their complete form, there are some areas where returns for these years have been found and some survive in local authority libraries and archives.
1801 - taken on 10 March
1811 - taken on 27 May
1821 - taken on 28 May
1831 - taken on 30 May
Why not search for your ancestors in the censuses?
1841 Census
The World in 1841
General
- President Harrison becomes first American President to die in office.
- The Canadas are merged into the Province of Canada.
- Punch Magazine launched
Census
- The census taken on the night of 7 June 1841 gave the total population as 15,914,000.
Literature
- Charles Dickens – Barnaby Rudge
- Ralph Waldo Emerson – Essays
Political and military
- United Kingdom occupies Hong Kong.
- United Kingdom annexes Sarawak from Brunei
- First Opium War in progress
Search for your ancestors in the 1841 census
1851 Census
General
- Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch, opens the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations at the Crystal Palace. It runs from 1 May until 18 October.
- In October, the Reuters news service is founded.
- The first international chess tournament is held in London on 26 May.
- American gambler, gunfighter and freind of famous lawman Wyatt Earp, John Henry ‘Doc’ Holliday is born on 14 August.
Census
- The 1851 census was taken on 30 March 1851 and gave the population as 17,922,768.
The Arts
- Author Mary Shelley dies on 1 February.
- Artist J M W Turner dies on 19 December.
- Writer Joanna Baillie is born on 23 February.
Political and Military
- John Russell (Liberal) is British Prime Minister.
- Lord Palmerston is sacked as Foreign Secretary for sending Napoleon III a congratulatory telegram on his coup d"état, by which he’d seized dictatorial powers over France.
- Frenchman Ferdinand Foch, supreme commander of the allied armies in the Great War, is born.
1861 Census
General
- Daily weather forecasts began on 1 January.
- The First horse-drawn trams appeared on the streets of London.
- The opening of the Post Office Savings Bank saw within its first year 180,000 investors, who between them deposited nearly £2,000,000.
Census
- The census taken on the night of 7 April gave the total population as 20,066,000. To put this in perspective the population of Russia was 76 million, USA 32 million and Italy 25 million.
Sanitation
- Queen Victoria had been on the throne since 1837, with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, as her husband and Prince Consort. Victoria was devastated when on 14 December Prince Albert died at Windsor Castle. The cause of Prince Albert"s death was thought to be due to typhoid, caused by contaminated water and lack of proper sewage disposal.
- Thomas Crapper, manufacturer, supplier and installer of sanitary goods and improver and promoter of the "Water Waste Preventer" founded the firm of Thomas Crapper & Co. in 1861.
Literature
- Mrs Beeton"s Book of Household Management.
- Charles Dickens - Great Expectations.
- The first issue of the Vatican"s newspaper L"Osservatore Romano was published.
Political and military
- William Ewart Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer and introduced a clever new practice in the way laws dealing with financial practice were passed by Parliament, combining them all into one large bill for the 1861 budget.
- Earl Haig, Commander in chief of the British forces in France during most of the First World War, was born in Edinburgh.
- James Buchanan was succeeded by Abraham Lincoln.
- Tsar Alexander II of Russia initiated sweeping social reforms, the most historically important of which was the Emancipation of the Serfs Act, 1861.
Maggie Loughran is Administrator of the Federation of Family History Societies, and is currently Chairman of the Earlsdon Society (a local history group). Maggie regularly contributes to journals and magazines and has been a family and local history consultant for the History Channel. Maggie has also lectured widely on family and local history, both in England and North America.
Why not search for your ancestors in the 1861 census?
1871 Census
General
- German Empire created – Wilhelm I of Germany is first Emperor of Germany.
- Paris Commune established, later crushed by Third Republic.
- Royal Albert Hall opened.
Census
- The census taken on the night of 2 April 1871 gave the total population as 22,723,000.
Literature
- George Eliot – Middlemarch
- Lewis Carroll – Through the looking glass
- Marcel Proust is born
Political and Military
- Trade Unions legalised in the UK
- Religious tests removed for Oxford and Cambridge Universities
Search for your ancestors in the 1871 census
1881 Census
General
- Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company.
- The Savoy Theatre opens
- Alexander Fleming born
Census
- The 1881 census was taken on the night of 3 April 1881 and gave the total population as 25,974,000.
Literature
- P.G. Wodehouse is born
- Fyodor Dostoevsky dies
- Henry James – The Portrait of a Lady is published
Political and Military
- Benjamin Disraeli dies
- The First Boer War is ended by the signing of the Pretoria Convention
- Charles Stewart Parnell imprisoned
Search for your ancestors and view free transcriptions in the 1881 census
1891 Census
General
- New Scotland Yard becomes the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police
- Radio patented by Thomas Edison
- Building of the Trans-Siberian Railway is started
Census
- The census taken on the night of 5 April 1891 gave the total population as 28,999,725.
Literature
- Oscar Wilde - Salome
- Arthur Rimbaud dies
- Thomas Hardy – Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Political and Military
- Charles Stewart Parnell dies
Search for your ancestors in the 1891 census
1901 Census
General
- Queen Victoria dies at Osborne House and is succeeded by her son who becomes Edward VII.
- The formation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Its colonies are: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
- Britain"s first cinema opens in Islington, London.
Census
- The 1901 census was taken on 31 March 1901 and gave the population as 32,527,843.
The Arts
- RenFranis-Admand Sully Prudhomme is awarded the first Nobel Prize for Literature.
- Louis Armstrong, Clark Gable and Walt Disney are born.
- Rudyard Kipling\"s Kim is published.
Sport
- Tottenham Hotspur are the first non-league football team to win the FA Cup.
- In boxing James J Jeffries is the reigning Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Political and Military
- Winston Churchill enters the House of Commons.
- The Second Boer War in South Africa rages on.
Search for your ancestors in the 1901 census.
Known issues
1841 Census - missing pieces
| 89 | Parish:Malpas (part) | |
| Agden | ||
| Bickerton | ||
| Bickley | ||
| Bradley | ||
| Broxton | ||
| Bulkeley Chidlow | ||
| Cholmondley | ||
| Chorlton | ||
| Cuddington | ||
| Duckington | ||
| Edge Egerton | ||
| Hampton | ||
| Larkton | ||
| Macefen | ||
| Malpas | ||
| Newton-juxta-Malpas Oldcastle | ||
| Overton | ||
| Stockton | ||
| Tushingham | ||
| Wichaugh | ||
| Wigland | ||
| Parish: Shocklach | ||
| Caldecott | ||
| Church Shocklach | ||
| Oviatt Shocklach | ||
| Parish: Threapwood | ||
| 192 | Derbyshire | Parish: Walton-upon-Trent |
| 404 | Southampshire | Parish: Winnall |
| 465 | Kent | Parish: Bishopsbourne |
| 467 | Parish: Herne Bay | |
| 469 | Parish: Reculver | |
| 470 | Parish: Sturry | |
| Parish: Swalecliffe | ||
| Parish: Westbere | ||
| Parish: Seasalter Liberty | ||
| Parish: Whitstable | ||
| Harwich | ||
| 471 | Parish: Ashford (part) | |
| 475 | Parish: Smarden | |
| 668 | Middlesex | Parish: St Luke |
| West Finsbury | ||
| Golden-Lane | ||
| Old Street | ||
| Whitecross-Street | ||
| 680 | Parish: Paddington | |
| 690 | Parish: Kensington (part) | |
| Brompton | ||
| Kensall Green (part) | ||
| 797 | Northamptonshire | Parish: Blatherwycke |
| Parish: Bulwick | ||
| Parish: Bulwick Short Leys | ||
| Parish: Deene | ||
| Deenethorpe | ||
| Parish: Great Weldon | ||
| Little Weldon | ||
| Parish: Weedon-Beck | ||
| 798 | Parish: Haselbeech | |
| 809 | ||
| 864 | Piece number not used | |
| 890 | Oxfordshire | Parish: Yarnton or Yarington |
| 942 | Somerset | Parish: Mells |
| 1074 | Surrey | Parish: Walton-upon-Thames |
| Hersham | ||
| Parish: Weybridge | ||
| 1075 | Parish: Malden | |
| 1172 | Wiltshire | Parish: Hardenhuish |
| 1174 | Parish: Downton | |
| Charlton | ||
| Church | ||
| Downton | ||
| East Downton | ||
| Hamptworth | ||
| Wick & Walton | ||
| Witherington | ||
| Parish: No-Man's Land | ||
| 1176 | Parish: Patney | |
| 1184 | Parish: Bishop's Cannings | |
| Bourton & Easton | ||
| Chittoe | ||
| Coase | ||
| Horton | ||
| St James or Southbroom | ||
| Parish: West or Bishop's Lavington | ||
| Fiddington | ||
| Littleton Pannell | ||
| 1186 | Parish: Allcannings | |
| Allington | ||
| Etchilhampton | ||
| Fullaway or Fullway | ||
| Parish: Alton-Barnes | ||
| Parish: Beeching-Stoke | ||
| Parish: Churton or Cherrington | ||
| Conock | ||
| Parish: East or Market Lavington | ||
| Easterton | ||
| Parish: Marden | ||
| Parish: St Bernard Stanton | ||
| Parish: Urchfont or Erchfont | ||
| Eastcott | ||
| Lydeway | ||
| Stert | ||
| Wedhampton | ||
| 1286 | Yorkshire | Wapentake: Claro (Lower Division) |
| Parish: Ripon (part) | ||
| Bewerley | ||
| Greenhow Hill (part) | ||
| Wapentake: Claro (Lower Division) | ||
| Parish: Ripon (part) | ||
| Dacre | ||
| Hayshaw | ||
| 1369 | Breconshire | Parish: Llanhamlach (Lower Division) |
| Llecfaen (Upper Division) | ||
| Parish: Vainor | ||
| Coed-y-Cymmar | ||
| Dyffrin | ||
| Gelli | ||
| 1404 | Denbighshire | Parish: Clocaenog |
| Isa | ||
| Ucha | ||
| Parish: Derwen | ||
| Derwen-Dyfanedd | ||
| Derwen-Ysgeifiog | ||
| Parish: Llanelidan | ||
| Bryncume | ||
| Garthyneuvedd | ||
| Nantclwyd | ||
| Trewyn-Bodlowydd | ||
| Parish: Llanfair-Dyffrin-Clwyd | ||
| Derwen-Ilanerch | ||
| Euarth | ||
| Faynol | ||
| Garthgynan | ||
| 1405 | Parish: Llanaron | |
| Alltgymbyd | ||
| Benhadlen | ||
| Bodidris & Bodidris Truam | ||
| Bodigre'r-Abbot Bodigre'r-Yarll | ||
| Creiogiog-Is-Glan | ||
| Creigiog-Uwch-Glan | ||
| Chwyleiriog | ||
| Cyfnant Erryrys | ||
| Gelligynnan | ||
| Gwaenyffymon | ||
| Llan | ||
| 1408 | Flintshire | Parish: Bangor (part) |
| Bangor | ||
| Parish: Erbistock | ||
| Parish: Hope or Estyn | ||
| Caergwyrle | ||
| Cymmau | ||
| Estyn | ||
| Hope Owen Rhanberfedd | ||
| Shordley | ||
| Isaf Uwch-y-Mynydd | ||
| Uchaf Uwch-y-Mynydd | ||
| Parish: Llanarmon (part) | ||
| Bodidris | ||
| Parish: Threapwood (part) | ||
| Parish: Worthenbury | ||
| Parish: Wrexham (part) | ||
| Abenbury Fechan | ||
| Parish: Malpas (part) | ||
| Iscoyd | ||
| 1409 | Parish: Gresford (part) | |
| Merford & Hoseley | ||
| 1410 | Parish: Mold | |
| Arddynwent | ||
| Argoed | ||
| Bistree | ||
| Broncoed Gwernafield | ||
| Gwsaney | ||
| Hartsheath | ||
| Hendrebiffa | ||
| Leeswood Llwynegrin | ||
| Mold | ||
| Nerquis | ||
| Tryddyn | ||
| Hamlets: | ||
| Buckley (part) | ||
| Gwernymynnd | ||
| Waenrhwyddfyd | ||
| Pantymwyn Llong | ||
| Pontblyddyn | ||
| Rhydgoley | ||
| Pentre | ||
| 1415 | ||
| Glamorganshire | ||
| Parish: Merthyr-Tydfil | ||
| Forest | ||
| Garth Gelli-deg | ||
| Heolwermood | ||
| Taff & Cynon | ||
| 1416 | Parish: Cowbridge | |
| Parish:Llan-blethian | ||
| Aberthin | ||
| Treinghill | ||
| 1423 | Parish: St Bride Major | |
| St Bride | ||
| Lampha (part) | ||
1851 missing pages
Missing pieces of the 1851 census
In the enumeration books the following parishes and hamlets are permanently missing from these piece numbers. Some of these parishes and hamlets represent the entirety of the piece, while others are just portions of a piece.
| 1762 | Cambridgeshire and Suffolk | Parish: Ashley-cum-Silverley |
| Burwell | ||
| Exning | ||
| Landwade | ||
| Newmarket | ||
| Reach | ||
| Snailwell | ||
| St Mary | ||
| Swaffham Prior | ||
| 1763 | Cambridgeshire and Suffolk | Parish: Dalham |
| Dunstall-Green | ||
| Gazeley | ||
| Higham Green | ||
| Kennett | ||
| Lidgate | ||
| Moulton | ||
| Ousden | ||
| Southwell Park | ||
| 1785 | Essex | Parish: Aythorp-Roothing |
| Bardfield-Saling | ||
| Barnston | ||
| Broxted | ||
| Chickney | ||
| Easton Lodge | ||
| Felstead | ||
| Great Bardfield | ||
| Great Canfield | ||
| Great Dunmow | ||
| Great Easton | ||
| Hatfield-Broad-Oak or Hatfield Regis | ||
| High Easter | ||
| High Roothing | ||
| Leaden-Roothing | ||
| Lindsell | ||
| Little Bardfield | ||
| Little Canfield | ||
| Little Easton | ||
| Little Dunmow | ||
| Margaret Roothing | ||
| Morrell-Roothing | ||
| Stebbing | ||
| Takeley | ||
| Thaxted | ||
| Tilty | ||
| White Roothing | ||
| 1852 | Dorset | Parish: Bagbere |
| Bellchalwell | ||
| Child Okeford | ||
| Fifehead-Neville | ||
| Hammoon | ||
| Haselbury-Bryan | ||
| Hinton St Mary | ||
| Ibberton | ||
| Manston | ||
| Newton | ||
| Okeford-Fitzpaine | ||
| Shillingstone or Shilling-Okeford | ||
| Stoke-Wake | ||
| Sturminster-Newton-Castle | ||
| Woolland |
In addition, the census returns of the following localities have been damaged by water during storage. Most of the damaged pieces are in the area of Manchester.
| 2332 | Yorkshire | Parish: Broadroyd Head |
| Carlton | ||
| Carr Green | ||
| Cudworth with High & Low Cudworth | ||
| Darton | ||
| Darton Lane Head | ||
| Darton with Blacker | ||
| Mapplewell | ||
| Notton | ||
| Roystone | ||
| Staincross & Swallow Hill | ||
| Woolley | ||
| 2219 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Ardwick | ||
| Birth in Rusholme | ||
| Burnage | ||
| Chorlton-dum-Hardy | ||
| Didsbury | ||
| Gorton | ||
| Levenshulme | ||
| Openshaw | ||
| Rusholme | ||
| Withington | ||
| 2220 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Ardwick | ||
| Chorlton-upon-Medlock | ||
| 2221 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Moss-side | ||
| Hulme | ||
| 2222/1 | Lancashire | Parish: Eccles |
| Pendleton | ||
| 2222/2 | Lancashire | Parish: Eccles |
| Pendleton | ||
| 2222/3 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Broughton-with Kersall | ||
| 2223 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Salford | ||
| 2224 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Salford | ||
| 2225 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| 2226 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| 2227 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| 2228 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| 2229 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| 2230 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| 2231 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Bradford | ||
| Beswick | ||
| Newton with Culcheth & Kirkmanshulme | ||
| 2232 | Lancashire | Parish: Manchester |
| Alt | ||
| Alt-Edge | ||
| Alt-Hill | ||
| Ashton-under-Lyne | ||
| Blackley | ||
| Cheetham | ||
| Crumpsall | ||
| Failsworth | ||
| Great Heaton | ||
| Harpurhey | ||
| Knott Lanes with Lees | ||
| Knott Lanes & Wood Park | ||
| Little Heaton | ||
| Moston | ||
| Prestwich | ||
| Taunton | ||
| 2233 | Lancashire | Parish: Ashton-under-Lyne |
| Ashton Town | ||
| 2240 | Lancashire | Parish: Prestwich |
| Oldham (St Mary's, St Peter's, Wernet, and Westwood Wards) |
1861 missing pages
Missing pieces of the 1861 census
There are a number of enumeration books missing, or parts of enumeration books (usually missing start or finish), from the 1861 census. Below is a list of the books affected that we know of, both those missing in their entirety (M) and those which are incomplete (I) in the National Archives.
| 145 | Middlesex | Islington | Islington East (2) | Islington | M |
| 217 | Middlesex | West London | West London North (1) | St Bartholomew the Less | I |
| 219 | Middlesex | West London | West London South (2) | Barnard's Inn | M |
| 220 | Middlesex | London City | London City SW (1) | St Augustine Watling Street | I |
| 229 | Middlesex | London City | London City NE (5) | St Christopher le Stock | I |
| 407 | Kent | Greenwich | Woolwich Arsenal (6) | Woolwich | M |
| 473 | Kent | North Aylesford | Northfleet (1) | Ifield | I |
| 485 | Kent | Malling | East Peckham (2) | Wateringbury: Lily Hoe | I |
| 499 | Kent | Maidstone | Loose (3) | Barming | I |
| 499 | Kent | Maidstone | Loose (3) | West Barming | I |
| 541 | Kent | Eastry | Wingham (2) | Goodnestone | I |
| 565 | Sussex | Battle | Battle (3) | Penhurst | I |
| 601 | Sussex | Brighton | The Palace (3) | Brighton | M |
| 690 | Hampshire | Winchester | The Worthys (2) | Lainston | I |
| 758 | Berkshire | Windsor | Egham (1) | Thorpe (Surrey) | I |
| 837 | Hertfordshire | Hemel Hempstead | Kings Langley (1) | Flaunden | I |
| 863 | Buckinghamshire | Wycombe | Princes Risborough (5) | Illmire | I |
| 903 | Oxfordshire | Woodstock | Woodstock (2) | Wootton Stonesfield Combe Woodstock Blenheim Bladon Hensington Begbroke Shipton on Cherwell Hampton-Gay Hampton-Poyle Kidlington Gosford Thrup Water-Eaton Woolvercot Yarnton Cassington Worton |
M |
| 952 | Northamptonshire | Wellingborough | Higham Ferrers (2) | Irchester | I |
| 952 | Northamptonshire | Wellingborough | Higham Ferrers (2) | Irthlingborough | I |
| 1039 | Cambridgeshire | Ely | Ely (3) | Ely Trinity Ely College Ely St Mary Stuntney Chettisham |
M |
| 1047 | Cambridgeshire | Wisbech | Leverington (1) | Tydd St Giles | I |
| 1047 | Cambridgeshire | Wisbech | Leverington (1) | Leverington: Parson Drove | I |
| 1194 | Norfolk | Yarmouth | Yarmouth Northern (2) | Great Yarmouth: Cobham Island | I |
| 1234 | Norfolk | Depwade | Forncett (4) | Great Moulton Aslacton Forncett St Peter Forncett St Mary Hapton Ashwellthorpe Fundenhall Tacolnestone Bunwell Carleton-Rode Tibenham |
M |
| 1984 | Staffordshire | Wolverhampton | Tettenhall (1) | Pattingham: Rudge (Shropshire) | I |
| 2211 | Warwickshire | Rugby | Rugby (1) | Newbold-upon-Avon: Little Lawford Long Lawford |
I |
| 2211 | Warwickshire | Rugby | Rugby (1) | Monks Kirby: Easenhall | I |
| 2247 | Leicestershire | Lutterworth | Lutterworth (1) | Claybrooke: Wigston Parva | I |
| 2365 | Lincolnshire | Horncastle | Wragby (1) | Hatton | I |
| 2365 | Lincolnshire | Horncastle | Wragby (1) | Baumber a.k.a. Bamburgh | I |
| 2365 | Lincolnshire | Horncastle | Wragby (1) | Gautby | I |
| 2365 | Lincolnshire | Horncastle | Wragby (1) | Waddingworth | I |
| 2625 | Cheshire | Great Boughton | Chester Castle (2) | Chester St John the Baptist | I |
| 3278 | West Yorkshire | Halifax | Halifax (4) | Halifax | I |
| 3388 | West Yorkshire | Leeds | West Leeds (3) | Leeds NW Ward | M |
| 3652 | North Yorkshire | Guisborough | Marske (2) | Marske: Redcar | I |
| 3735 | Durham | Durham | Lanchester (2) | Brancepeth: Hedley Hope | I |
| 3855 | Northumberland | Castle Ward | Stamfordham (2) | Newburn: Black Callerton Butterlaw East & West Whorlton Newbiggin East & West Denton Newburn Hall Sugley |
I |
| 3913 | Cumberland | Carlisle | Wetheral (1) | I | |
| 3984 | Monmouthshire | Monmouth | Dingestow (2) | Garway (Herefordshire) | I |
| 3984 | Monmouthshire | Monmouth | Dingestow (2) | Skenfreth | I |
| 4010 | Monmouthshire | Pontypool | Pontypool (1) | Mamhilad | I |
| 4013 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Goldcliff | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Llangattock | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Kemeys Inferior | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Tredunnock | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Llanhennock | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Llanmartin | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Magor: Redwick | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Witson a.k.a Whitson | I |
| 4014 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Nash | I |
| 4015 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Caerleon (1) | Caerleon | M |
| 4022 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Newport (2) | St Woollos & Newport | M |
| 4024 | Monmouthshire | Newport | St Woollos (3) | Michaelstoneyvedw Llanvedw (Glamorganshire) | I |
| 4025 | Monmouthshire | Newport | St Woollos (3) | Bettws | I |
| 4025 | Monmouthshire | Newport | St Woollos (3) | Malpas | I |
| 4025 | Monmouthshire | Newport | St Woollos (3) | Henllis | I |
| 4025 | Monmouthshire | Newport | St Woollos (3) | Risca | I |
| 4025 | Monmouthshire | Newport | St Woollos (3) | Llanvihangel Llantarnam | I |
| 4027 | Monmouthshire | Newport | Mynyddyslwyn (4) | Machen: Upper & Lower Machen; Rhydgwern (Glamorganshire) | I |
| 4041 | Glamorganshire | Cardiff | St Nicholas (3) | Welsh St Donats | I |
| 4077 | Glamorganshire | Bridgend | Bridgend (3) | Ewenny | I |
| 4077 | Glamorganshire | Bridgend | Bridgend (3) | Merthyr Mawr | I |
| 4078 | Glamorganshire | Bridgend | Bridgend (3) | Laleston | I |
| 4079 | Glamorganshire | Bridgend | Bridgend (3) | Tythegston: Lower Tythegston | I |
| 4131 | Carmarthenshire | Llandilofawr | Llandilo (4) | Llandilofawr: Llandilo Town | M |
| 4132 | Carmarthenshire | Llandilofawr | Llandebie (5) | Llandebie | I |
| 4133 | Carmarthenshire | Llandilofawr | Llandebie (5) | Llandebie | I |
| 4137 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | St Clear's (2) | Laugharne | M |
| 4137 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | St Clear's (2) | Llansadurnen | M |
| 4137 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | St Clear's (2) | Llandawke | M |
| 4137 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | St Clear's (2) | St Clear's | M |
| 4138 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | St Clear's (2) | Llangunnock | I |
| 4143 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | Conwil (4) | Llanllawddog | I |
| 4143 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | Conwil (4) | Merthyr | I |
| 4143 | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | Conwil (4) | Abernant | I |
| 4146 | Pembrokeshire | Narberth | Llanboidy (1) | Llanfallteg | I |
| 4149 | Pembrokeshire | Narberth | Narberth (4) | Crinow | I |
| 4149 | Pembrokeshire | Narberth | Narberth (4) | Cilymaenllwyd: Castle-Dyrran (Carmarthenshire) | I |
| 4154 | Pembrokeshire | Pembroke | Tenby (1) | Caldy & St Margaret's Islands | I |
| 4161 | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Milford (1) | St Bride's | I |
| 4161 | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Milford (1) | Hasguard | I |
| 4163 | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Haverfordwest (2) | Harroldston St Issells | I |
| 4163 | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Haverfordwest (2) | Haverfordwest St Thomas | I |
| 4163 | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Haverfordwest (2) | Haverfordwest St Mary | I |
| 4164 | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Haverfordwest (2) | Haverfordwest St Mary: St Martin & Prendergast | I |
| 4165 | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Haverfordwest (2) | Haverfordwest St Mary: Uzmaston | I |
| 4173 | Cardiganshire | Cardigan | Newport (1) | Newport (Pembrokeshire) | I |
| 4174 | Cardiganshire | Cardigan | Newport (1) | Nevern (Pembrokeshire) | I |
| 4178 | Cardiganshire | Cardigan | Llandygwydd (3) | Llanfihangelpenbedw (Pembrokeshire) | I |
| 4184 | Cardiganshire | Newcastle Emlyn | Llandyssil (3) | Llandyssil | I |
| 4185 | Cardiganshire | Newcastle Emlyn | Llandyssil (3) | Henllan | I |
| 4187 | Cardiganshire | Lampeter | Pencarreg (2) | Pencarreg (Carmarthenshire) | I |
| 4187 | Cardiganshire | Lampeter | Pencarreg (2) | Llanycrwys (Carmarthenshire): Fforest Mynachty |
I |
| 4187 | Cardiganshire | Lampeter | Pencarreg (2) | Cellan | I |
| 4187 | Cardiganshire | Lampeter | Pencarreg (2) | Llanfairclydogau | I |
| 4190 | Cardiganshire | Aberayron | Llandisilio (1) | Dihewid | I |
| 4196 | Cardiganshire | Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth (2) | Aberystwyth Llanbadarnfawr Uchayndre Issayndre Upper & Lower Vainor Broncastellan Clarach |
M |
| 4202 | Cardiganshire | Tregaron | Llangeitho (2) | Nantcwnlle | I |
| 4211 | Brecknockshire | Brecknock | Brecknock (3) | Brecknock St David & Lower Division | I |
| 4225 | Brecknockshire | Hay | Hay (3) | Llanigon Glynfach |
I |
| 4225 | Brecknockshire | Hay | Hay (3) | Hay | I |
| 4225 | Brecknockshire | Hay | Hay (3) | Cusop (Herefordshire) | I |
| 4228 | Radnorshire | Presteigne | Radnor (2) | Radnor New Radnor Upper Harpton |
I |
| 4231 | Radnorshire | Presteigne | Kington (3) | Stanton-upon-Arrow (Herefordshire) | I |
| 4256 | Montgomeryshire | Montgomery | Chirbury (2) | Chirbury | I |
| 4261 | Montgomeryshire | Llanfyllin | Llansaintffraid (2) | Llansaintffraid: Pool Deythur |
I |
| 4262 | Montgomeryshire | Llanfyllin | Llansaintffraid (2) | Guilsfield | I |
| 4263 | Montgomeryshire | Llanfyllin | Llansaintffraid (2) | Guilsfield | I |
| 4263 | Montgomeryshire | Llanfyllin | Llansaintffraid (2) | Llanfyllin | I |
| 4265 | Montgomeryshire | Llanfyllin | Llanrhaiade (3) | Llanarmonmynyddmawr (Denbighshire) | I |
| 4266 | Flintshire | Holywell | Whitford (1) | Gwaenysgor | I |
| 4270 | Flintshire | Holywell | Holywell (2) | Holywell | I |
| 4272 | Flintshire | Holywell | Flint (3) | Northop Caerfallwch Golftyn Wepre Leadbrook Major & Minor Kelsterton Soughton & Cunnah's Quay |
I |
| 4274 | Flintshire | Holywell | Mold (4) | Cilcen Rhesycae Cefyn Llan a.k.a. Tre-Llan Llysdanhunedd Llysycoed Maesygroes Mechlas Trellynian |
I |
| 4276 | Flintshire | Holywell | Mold (4) | Mold Leeswood Gwernafield Arddynwent Nerquis Gwsaney Hartsheath Hendrebiffa |
I |
| 4280 | Denbighshire | Wrexham | Ruabon (3) | Erbistock | I |
| 4290 | Denbighshire | Ruthin | Ruthin (2) | Efenechtyd | I |
| 4291 | Denbighshire | Ruthin | Llanelidan (3) | Llanfairdyffrynclwyd Llanelidan Derwen |
M |
| 4295 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | St Asaph (1) | Bodfary (Flintshire) | I |
| 4295 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | St Asaph (1) | Dymeirchion (Flintshire) | I |
| 4295 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | St Asaph (1) | Dyserth (Flintshire) | I |
| 4297 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | St Asaph (1) | Meriadog | I |
| 4298 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | Abergele (2) | St George | I |
| 4299 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | Abergele (2) | Llanddulas | I |
| 4299 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | Abergele (2) | Bettwsynrhos a.k.a. Bettwsabergele | I |
| 4301 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | Denbigh (3) | Llanefydd | I |
| 4301 | Denbighshire | St Asaph | Denbigh (3) | Henllan: Trefrant Bylchan |
I |
| 4309 | Denbighshire | Llanrwst | Llanrwst (1) | Llanrwst | I |
| 4314 | Merionethshire | Bala | Bala (1) | Llangower | I |
| 4319 | Merionethshire | Dolgelly | Barmouth (2) | Llanfachreth | I |
| 4319 | Merionethshire | Dolgelly | Barmouth (2) | Llanelltyd | I |
| 4330 | Carnarvonshire | Pwllheli | Pwllheli (2) | Penrhos | I |
| 4330 | Carnarvonshire | Pwllheli | Pwllheli (2) | Llanor | I |
| 4330 | Carnarvonshire | Pwllheli | Pwllheli (2) | Denio Pwllheli |
I |
| 4344 | Carnarvonshire | Carnarvon | Carnarvon (3) | Carnarvon Llanbeblig Llanfaglan |
M |
| 4389 | Islands in the British Seas | Le Marchant Great & Little Sark |
M |
1871 Census - known problems
| 3278 | Leicestershire | Parish: St Margaret, Leicester |
| 4213 | Lancashire | Parish: Preston |
| 4729 | Yorkshire | Parish: Eastoft and Haldenby |
| 5444 | Glamorgan | Parish: Llangyfelach |
| Parish: Penderry | ||
| Parish: Llandilotalybont | ||
| 5463 | Glamorgan | Parish: Porteynon |
| Parish: Penrice | ||
| Parish: Oxwich | ||
| Parish: Nicholaston | ||
| Parish: Penmaen | ||
| Parish: Reynoldston | ||
| Parish: Llandewy | ||
| Parish: Knelston | ||
| 5590 | Breconshire | Parish: Talgarth |
| Parish: Grwyne-fawr | ||
| Parish: Grwyne-fechan |
3. Searching the census
Census - how data was recorded
The collecting of census data was the responsibility of enumerators - a body of paid volunteers who helped the government in their statistical exercise.
Enumerators were generally members of society who were literate and had a suitable standard of education such as
- Clergy
- School teachers
- Doctors
- Lawyers
- Businessmen.
Shortly before the census date, enumerators were provided with forms - called Schedules - which they delivered to every household, hospital, ship or institution within the district under their responsibility.
The head of the house for each household (or the officer in charge of the institution or ship) was required to complete this form in time for the enumerator’s collection a few days later.
When the enumerators returned on the night of the census, they went from door to door checking and collecting the completed forms. If the forms were not completed, the enumerators would question members of the household to get the required information from them.
Once the Schedules were complete, the enumerators would copy the forms into printed books of blank census forms.
These books were then sent to the local registrars who also checked the data and forwarded it onto the central office in London, for final checking and publication as a Parliamentary Paper.
Census - what the records contain
The census returns from 1801 to 1831 were taken by the government for purely statistical/headcount purposes and the details collected about individuals were mostly destroyed after they had been used.
However, this changed with the census in 1841, where set information was recorded about every person staying at an address on the night of the census.
From 1851 to 1901 details about every individual at an address were still recorded; however, further information was also collected by the enumerator, such as condition of marriage and disability. The format of the census remained largely the same throughout this time.
Data included in the 1841 census:
Address
Names - only the surname and first name
Age - rounded to nearest five years
Occupation
Born (county) - question only answered by a yes or a no if the person was born in the county where he/she was, on the night of the census
Born (country) - question only answered by a yes or a no if the person was born in the country where he/she was, on the night of the census
1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 census – data included:
Address
Names - the surname and first name, and sometimes the middle name or initial
Age
Occupation
Born (county) - name of county given
Born (country) - name of country given
Relationship to head of household
Condition of marriage
Disability - "blind, deaf-and-dumb, imbecile or lunatic"
Additionally, where the 1891 and 1901 census was taken in Wales, the census included a question on the language spoken.
Census - Don’t believe everything you read
As with any family history records, original census returns are not free from mistakes; you should therefore keep an open mind when using the data and not believe everything you read.
Some common errors that can be found in census returns are as follows:
Errors in recording census data
As illiteracy was quite high in the 19th century, many people may have asked their friends, neighbours or even the enumerators to help fill out the forms.
In institutions or on vessels it was the person in charge of the prison or ship who completed the details on behalf of everyone in the institution or on the ship. This led to many errors in note taking and in recording the final information.
Typical mistakes were made when spelling peoples’ names, or noting their occupations, or even when recording their ages.
Census age discrepancies
Whilst enumerators and the officials at institutions made mistakes when recording information, individuals who completed the forms themselves also made some errors.
This is certainly true of some people who were quite inventive about their age, or simply had only a vague notion of when they were born.
Census - name changing
Ten years is a long time, and a lot of things happened in our ancestors’ lives between one census and another.
During this time they may have got married and re-married perhaps, resulting in a number of name changes. Alternatively, there may have been cases where they wanted to change their identity, perhaps for personal or political reasons.
You may, for example, have a bigamist in the family who changed his name to flee from a former partner. You may also have ancestors who anglicised their names over a period of time to suit the political environment.
Census occupations
Many people also lied about their occupations when completing census returns.
For example, in the 19th century thousands of women were prostitutes, yet this is certainly not what they recorded on their forms.
Also, whilst most children were noted as ‘scholars’ by their parents, this may have been to disguise the fact that they were breaking the law by sending their underage children out to work.
Census – nicknames
If you can’t track down James, he may be a Jim. Eminent family historian, Jeanne Bunting, points out that Aunt Patty might be listed as Martha and your Grandma, who was always called Polly, was probably Mary. Uncle Wag could be listed as Charles or Chas and Aunt Fanny as Frances.
Nicknames and diminutives can derail your family history search – a man can be William to acquaintances, Will to his friends and Billie to his mother – but what is he called in the records?
Wildcards, denoted by a *, can be used to enhance your search. If you have searched unsuccessfully for William Lancaster, you could type in Wil* Lancaster; the search will return a list of names such as Wilfred Lancaster, Willie Lancaster and Will Lancaster.
You can use two wildcards to search for a string of letters such as *ill* which will give you all the Bills, Wills, Williams and others. This is a particularly useful search tool as the initial letter is often misrepresented in the transcript.
When searching for your ancestors in the census records, keep an open mind as to where they may have been on the night the particular census was taken.
If you have an idea about where they lived, you should start your search with that address. If they are not recorded at that address, you should broaden your search.
Tips for searching the census
A census is taken at an address, not specifically of a family or household.
When searching for your relatives, you should remember that even though your ancestor may have lived at one address, if he or she were not at home on the night of the census then they will not be included in the enumerator's records for that address.
If they were visiting friends or relatives that evening, they may, however, be included in the census at that particular address.
Many people, particularly young, unmarried women, were in service and may be found at the residence of their employers.
You should also think about your ancestors occupations too.
If for example you know that your great-great-grandfather was a sailor, he may have actually been at sea that evening - in which case he wouldn't be recorded on the census. However, if he was on a ship that was docked in an English port, then he should be recorded at the ship's address - as he was there that evening - rather than at his home address.
The same situation may apply to any relatives who worked as medical staff in hospitals, or wardens in prisons, or night-workers in a factory. If they were at the institutions on the night of the census, they would be recorded at that address rather than their home address.
Residential place census search field
“Residential place” is a key-word field. It draws matching results from the following header fields:
- City/Municipal Borough
- Ecclesiastical District
- Parish
- Registration District
- Municipal ward
- Town
- Hamlet
A key word search in residential place should pick up anything (including parish or registration district) from any of these seven fields.
Census - cross-checking with births, marriages and deaths
Census returns enable us to track ancestors we know about and discover ancestors we never knew existed. By linking these finds to the birth, marriage and death records, we can discover more about these long lost relatives.
Some examples of how this can be done are below:
You may discover in the census return for 1881 that your great grandmother had another daughter that you've never heard about.
If the return recorded the child as being six years old and states where she was born, you now have the relevant information to calculate the child's year of birth, search for her entry in the GRO birth index (available on findmypast.co.uk), and order her certificate.
When you obtain the certificate, you will be able to fill in the missing details such as her actual birth date, the name of her father and who registered her birth.
Alternatively, your great-great-grandfather may appear in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census, but doesn't appear in any later census returns.
Whilst there may be many reasons for this - he may have moved abroad or changed his name - you could also assume that he died between the recording of the 1861 and 1871 census.
To check your assumption, you could try to find him in the GRO death index, by searching the records for this ten year period. If you discovered that he died in 1863, you could order a copy of the death certificate to fill in the missing details such as the exact date of death, the cause of death and where he died.
You could also start with the birth, marriage and death indexes to help locate your ancestors in the various census returns.
Once you've found details of a birth in the indexes of findmypast.co.uk and you have ordered a copy of the birth certificate, you'll have details such as the names of the parents (including the mother's maiden name), the father's occupation, and the address and area where the family was living at that particular date.
This is the valuable information that will help you find this family in the next census return for that period.
Marriage certificates also name the fathers of bride and groom, give their occupations, the bride's maiden name, and very importantly, the addresses at which they were living at the time of the marriage. These too can be followed up in the census returns.
Census – search by address
When you use census returns to trace your ancestors, you may also want to think about using them to trace the history of your home and the road you live on.
If you have a property that was built before 1901 you could find out about the lives of the people who lived there before you, or indeed the lives of the people who lived along the same street.
You may discover for example that a family of four lived at the same address, that the head of the household was a doctor and that the family employed domestic servants. Or that there were several families and assorted lodgers crammed into a few rooms.
Alternatively, you may find out that a famous politician or author once lived at the same address or along the same street.
Equally as interesting, you might want to look at how your home has changed throughout history or how the road has changed. For example, your building may now be converted into four apartments, with a total of 15 people living in the building. In 1861, the building may have simply been one very large house - home to just one family!
The road you live on could have drastically changed too. What is now a row of shops at the end of your street, may once have been a hospital, a factory or a prison.
Census trivia
The way census returns have been compiled since 1801 varies from decade to decade, leading to errors, mistakes and interesting anomalies. Before using census records, spare a few moments to read the quirky facts below:
Whilst the very early census returns were used for purely statistical purposes by the government, many of the enumerators - such as clergy - may have also recorded data about their individual parishioners for their own use. Some of the data that they recorded was so detailed that some even recorded how many dogs or hens certain parishioners had.
Generally it was clergy, teachers or businessmen who volunteered as enumerators as they had the required level of literacy to complete the forms.
It was not until the census of 1891 that women were allowed to volunteer as enumerators.
Whilst we live in an age of political correctness now, it didn't seem to concern the enumerators of the 19th century. If you look at the disabilities column on the later census returns you may spot some instances where people were described as "lunatics", "idiots" or even "feeble minded"!
According to the 1801 census, approximately nine million people lived on the British Isles of England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. By 1861 the figure rose to 20 million. By 1891 there were just under 29 million and today the populations stands at over 60 million.
Once the 1881 census was fully compiled, officials noted that there was an alarming rise in the number of individuals being reported as "deaf and dumb", when compared to previous census returns. After enquiries were made, it transpired that many enumerators had recorded babies as being deaf and dumb simply because they could not speak!
Due to a number of factors, such as people not being at home on the night census returns were collected, or people being homeless, generally 5% of the population are always missing from each return.
Some enumeration books are missing and some have damaged or unreadable pages; if you are unlucky your ancestors may have been recorded on one of these pages.
Whilst you would expect to see occupations such as butcher, or florist, or teacher in past census returns, you may be surprised to discover that occupations such as "bone collector", "temptress" and "professional wizard" were also recorded.
People have tried to sabotage the accuracy of census returns throughout history for a number of reasons, such as invasion of privacy or to mastermind a prank. In 1911 many women boycotted the census to protest against the lack of women's right to vote. The census for 2001 did not escape this, when thousands of people decided to record their religion as "Jedi Knight"!
Census returns for Scotland and Ireland
Scotland
The census has been taken every 10 years in Scotland since 1801 (except 1941 during the Second World War).
To view the Scottish census records for 1841 to 1901 you can visit the GRO in Edinburgh at:
The General Register Office
New Register House
3 West Register Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YT
Tel: 0131 314 4444
Email: records@gro-scotland.gov.uk
Alternatively the census returns for 1881, 1891 and 1901 are also available at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
Ireland
The census has been taken every 10 years in Ireland since 1821.
To view the Irish census for 1901 you should visit the GRO in Dublin at:
General Register Office, Joyce House,
8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2.
Tel:+353 1 635 40 00
The 1911 census of Ireland (which has been made available earlier than the 100 year rule dictates), can be accessed either online, or in person, by visiting the GRO in Belfast:
Oxford House
49/55 Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 4HL
Tel: 028 90 252000
Other Irish census records are not readily available. The 1861 and 1891 census returns were destroyed by the government, and many of the others were destroyed by fire in 1922.
There are other "census substitutes" for Ireland that you may want to look at however:
Griffiths Valuation
Cancelled Land Books
| previous | item 4 of 11 in knowledge base | next
