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From: "Michael Morrissey" <>
Subject: [Lon] Message Sharpener
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 08:37:07 +0100





Censuses of Population 1801-1891
>From 1801 onwards, information about the population of the United Kingdom
has been collected every ten years by means of a census. Although the
information collected varied from census to census, the census (enumeration)
returns taken together form a valuable source for genealogical, local,
demographic and other studies. This leaflet provides basic information: for
guides to the history, structure and complexities of the census records, see
A Clearer Sense of the Census, by Edward Higgs (London, 1996) and its
companion volume, Making Use of the Census, by Susan Lumas (London, 1992).
(These volumes can be purchased from the Information Point on the Ground
Floor.)

Location of the census returns
The Family Records Centre, Myddelton Street, London EC1R 1UW, holds
microfilm copies of the census returns for England, Wales, the Isle of Man
and the Channel Islands for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891: they are
open to public inspection.

Many county record offices and local history libraries hold microfilm or
microfiche copies of the census returns for their local area. For more
information see Census Returns 1841-1891 on Microfilm: a Directory of Local
Holdings by J S W Gibson (6th edition, Church Hanborough, 1994). In the USA,
copies of all available census returns are held by the Genealogical Society
of Utah, 50 East North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150.

Later returns for England, Wales the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are
not open to the public. For the 1901 returns only, direct descendants or
next of kin (if the person has died childless) may apply to the Registrar
General for the age and place of birth of a named person. A precise address
must be provided: a fee will be charged. The 1901 census will be open to the
public in 2002.The Registrar General would be willing to consider particular
applications for information to be extracted from the 1911 returns if it
would enable the applicant to establish a legal entitlement such as an
inheritance. Such authority would be given only where the information is not
available from any other source and is clearly requisite for establishing
the entitlement in question. A fee will be charged.

Scottish census returns are held by the Registrar General for Scotland, New
Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT. Those for 1841 to 1891 are open to public
inspection.

Census returns for the whole of Ireland are held by the National Archives,
Four Courts, Dublin 7, Republic of Ireland. Unfortunately, few 19th century
Irish census returns have survived but the Irish returns for 1901 and 1911
are fairly complete, and are open to public inspection there.

1801-1831 Censuses
The censuses of 10 March 1801, 27 May 1811, 28 May 1821 and 29 May 1831 were
confined to the compilation of numerical totals (by parish) of the
following: houses habited and uninhabited; families; men and women;
occupations (in broad categories); and various statistics of baptisms,
marriages and burials. A partial enumeration of age was taken in 1821, and a
more extensive investigation into occupations took place in 1831.

The names of individuals were not recorded in the official returns for these
years. However, in the course of carrying out the censuses, some local
enumerators did compile unofficial listings of named individuals. Those
which survive in local record offices are referred to by C R Chapman in
Pre-1841 Censuses and Population Listings (Lochin Publishing, 1990).

Most of the information in these records was published in Parliamentary
Papers: an incomplete set is available for consultation at the Public Record
Office, Kew, Surrey TW9 4DU. A reader's ticket is needed to consult them.
This can only be obtained in person on production of suitable
identification. The original documents were destroyed in 1904, with the
exception of the returns of numbers of baptisms, marriages and burials by
parish, 1821-1830, which survive as HO 71: Home Office: 1831 Census:
Clergymen's Return. These records are also held at the Public Record Office
at Kew.

1841 Census
The names of individuals were first recorded in the census taken on 6 June
1841. The information collected for each person included: full name; age;
sex; and occupation. For those under 15, ages were given exactly (if known):
for people over 15, ages were rounded down to the nearest five years. For
example, someone of 64 would appear as 60, another of 29 as 25. Some
information relating to the place of birth was also given, but was
restricted to whether or not a person was born in the county of residence (Y
for Yes, N for No), and, if not, whether in Scotland (S), Ireland (I), or
foreign parts(F). The 1841 census also gives the same kind of information as
earlier censuses on housing. It indicates which individuals lived in a
particular house, and individual households within that house. The
relationships between members of the same household are not recorded, but
can often be inferred.

The surviving records of the 1841 census for England and Wales, the Channel
Islands and the Isle of Man form part of the record class HO 107: Census
Returns. They are seen on microfilm at the Family Records Centre. A reader's
ticket is not needed.

1851-1891 Censuses
These censuses were taken on 30 March 1851, 7 April 1861, 2 April 1871, 3
April 1881 and 5 April 1891. They recorded for each person: full name; exact
age; relationship to head of household; sex; occupation; parish and county
of birth; and various medical disabilities. The 1891 returns contain
additional information on employment status, and, for Wales, on the language
spoken. Individuals were recorded in the households and houses in which they
lived.

The surviving records of the 1851 census for England and Wales, the Channel
Islands and the Isle of Man form part of the record class HO 107: Census
Returns. Those of 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 are in the record classes RG 9,
RG 10, RG 11 and RG 12 respectively. They are seen on microfilm at the
Family Records Centre. A reader's ticket is not needed.

Arrangement of the records
The census returns are arranged in small books covering enumeration
districts of usually a few hundred houses. Small towns, parishes and hamlets
can readily be searched in their entirety. The returns for large towns and
cities fill numerous books, and it is essential to know the address of a
particular individual before beginning a search.

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Researching :
PARSONS , KETTEL, GEARY , CHANCE, MILLS,
MURPHY, HOWLETT, SAUNDERS, BECKHAM, BLACK, MILLER, REED, DAVIS, CALE,
CONNELL, TYLER, DEEGAN, HUMPHREYS, NEAL, ROBINS - Gloucester, RUSSELL -
Gloucester & London, BAKER - London, DILL - London, MORRISSEY - London,
MORSEY - London, HURLEY - London, WALLIS - London, WALLACE - London,
SAUNDERS - London, NEAL - London.


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