Wales Census: Difference between revisions

A census is a count and description of a population. A census may list only selected persons (such as males between the ages of 16 and 45) or the whole population. The percentage of people listed varies with the purpose of the census and how carefully people were enumerated. Different civil and ecclesiastical authorities have taken censuses for their own purposes, which include:  

*Recording eligible voters (poll books)

The national census records are especially valuable because they list nearly the entire population and are readily available at many repositories, including the Family History Library.  

The British government has taken censuses every ten years since 1801, except for 1941. The first census to list every person by name was taken in 1841. Earlier censuses contain only statistical information, but some parishes did compile lists of names while gathering information for the census, a few of which survive. See the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:  

A list of existing pre-1841 census records and other census records is found in both of the following books:  

Census records less than 100 years old have been treated as confidential and not made available for searching by individuals. The ''"100 year rule"'' was introduced by government in 1966 but the ''"Freedom Of Information Act 2000"'' has been used to nullify this ruling. Therefore the government has decided to release the 1911 Census early, in 2009. However, the ''"1920 Census Act"'' specifically applies a 100 year rule to the 1921 and later censuses and early releases of these censuses are unlikely without change in legislation.  

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The 1841 census was taken on 7 June. Most of the later censuses were taken between 31 March and 8 April, every 10 years. Instructions were to list only those persons who spent the night in each household when the census was taken. Those travelling, staying at boarding schools, or working away from home are listed where they spent the night. For example, night watchmen are often listed at their employer’s business address rather than with their families.  

*Glamorgan Family History Society. ''Register of cottage leases, Dowlais Iron Company, 1818–1877.'' [Glamorgan, Wales]: Glamorgan Family History Society, [1996?]. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942.97%2FD2+R2g book 942.97/D2 R2g].)

When searching census records, remember that:  

*Voting registers or poll books.

Pre-1900 original census records are at the Public Record Office (see the "[[Wales Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" section of this outline for an address). The National Library of Wales, most county record offices, the Family History Library and the Family Records Centre (see the "[[Wales Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" section of this outline for the address) have microfilm copies of the census records.  

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of all of the government censuses from 1841–1891. The following work, commonly known as the Census Register, gives film numbers for each census year and is arranged by parish, town, village, or city:  

The microfilm and microfiche numbers may also be found in the Family History Library Catalog in the Place Search under:  

Population tables (see the "[[Wales Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" section of this outline) and other aids may help you pinpoint a location on the microfilm or solve unusual difficulties you may have in finding a locality on the census.  

Census indexes can reduce the time it takes to search a census. Some surname or street indexes exist for some areas.  

The Family History Library Catalog lists surname indexes under:  

You can also check the Census Surname Index Register (not cataloged typescript) at the Family History Library. This register is not available at Family History Centers.  

To locate the microfiche numbers for the 1881 census indexes, look in the Family History Library Catalog under:  

'''Street Indexes.''' If you know the address at which an ancestor may have lived, a street index can help you quickly find your ancestor in the census. Street indexes are available for major cities in Wales.  

If the above register does not list the town or district you need for a particular year, look for a street index in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:  

*[http://www.llgc.org.uk/ National Library of Wales]  

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