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== Understanding the Census  ==
== Understanding the Census  ==


The 1841 census was taken on 6 June. The censuses taken between 1851 through 1931 were conducted between 31 March and 8 April. Instructions to the census taker were to list only those persons who spent the night in each household when the census was taken. Those traveling, staying at boarding schools, or working away from home were listed where they spent the night. For example, night watchmen are often listed under their employer’s business address rather than with their families.  
Instructions to the census taker were to list only those persons who spent the night in each household when the census was taken. Those traveling, staying at boarding schools, or working away from home were listed where they spent the night. For example, night watchmen are often listed under their employer’s business address rather than with their families.  


You will find the following information in the censuses:  
You will find the following information in the censuses:  


'''1841:&nbsp;''' This census lists the members of every household with their name, sex, address, occupation, and whether or not they were born in the county they were living in on June 6, 1841. The census takers were instructed to give the exact ages of the children but to round the ages of those older than 15 down to a multiple of 5. For example, a 59-year-old would be listed as 55.&nbsp; Not all census enumerators followed these instructions.&nbsp; Some recorded the exact age; some even rounded the age up to the nearest multiple of 5.<br>
'''1841:&nbsp;'''  


'''1851 and later:&nbsp;''' These censuses list the names, ages (no longer rounded down), occupations, relationships to the head of the household, and parish and county of birth (except foreign births, which may give country only) of each member of the household.&nbsp; The 1851 and 1861 censuses list whether the people were "blind, deaf, or idiot."&nbsp; The 1871 and 1881 censuses list whether a person was considered an "imbecile, idiot, or lunatic."&nbsp; The 1891 census added the number of rooms (if less than 5) that the family occuped.&nbsp; It also listed whether the person was an employer or an employee.&nbsp; Most of the census records have various marks and checks.&nbsp; These were used by the government workers to collect statistics.&nbsp; The census collector drew a single diagonal line after the last name in a household and a double-diagonal line after the last name in a building.&nbsp; So a F.S. (female servant) or M.S. (male servant) might have a single line before the name and a double line after the name.&nbsp; However, these changes and difference are minor and the census details changed little from year to year. There is a [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hitch/gendocs/census.html detailed listing] of the changes made to the census over the years starting in 1841. At [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Census.html GENUKI] website you will find an excellent explanation of the census records and availability.&nbsp; (Examples of Census - [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/1841_British_Census_Example 1841], 1851, [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/1861_British_Census_Example 1861], 1871)&nbsp; NOTE: Many of the websites have not yet updated&nbsp;their pages to include the 1911 census.<br>
*Names of the members of every household  
*Their sex/gender
*Address
*Occupations
*Whether or not they were born in the county in which they were living in on June 6, 1841


'''Dates of the censuses''':&nbsp; Since one of the main goals was to avoid double counting people, the civil registration districts were divided into enumeration districts that were small enough for the census taken to complete the collection in one night.&nbsp; The following list gives the nights for each of the major censuses:&nbsp;
The census takers were instructed to give the exact ages of children but to round the ages of those older than 15 down to a lower multiple of 5.&nbsp; For example, a 59-year-old would be listed as 55.&nbsp; Not all census enumerators followed these instructions.&nbsp; Some recorded the exact age; some even rounded the age up to the nearest multiple of 5.


*1841 -- 6 June 1841
'''1851 and later:&nbsp;'''
*1851 -- 30 March 1851
*1861 -- 7 April 1861
*1871 -- 2 April 1871
*1881 -- 3 April 1881
*1891 -- 5 April 1891
*1901 -- 31 March 1901
*1911 -- 2 April 1911


=== Pre 1841 Census<br>  ===
*Names of each member of the houshold
*Ages (no longer rounded down)
*Relationships to the head of the household
*Occupations
*Parish and county of birth (except foreign births, which may give country only)
*The 1851 and 1861 censuses list whethera person was "blind, deaf, or idiot."&nbsp;
*The 1871 and 1881 censuses list whether a person was considered an "imbecile, idiot, or lunatic."&nbsp;
*The 1891 census added the number of rooms (if less than 5) that the family occuped.&nbsp; It also listed whether the person was an employer or an employee.&nbsp;
 
Most of the census records have various marks and checks.&nbsp; These were used by the government workers to collect statistics.&nbsp; The census collector drew a single diagonal line ( / ) after the last name in a family or household and a double diagonal line ( // ) after the last name in a building or housing unit.&nbsp; So a female servant (F.S.) or male servant (M.S.), who was not a member of the family with which he/she was residing, might have a single line before their name and a double line after the name.&nbsp;
 
Census details changed little from year to year.&nbsp; See a [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hitch/gendocs/census.html detailed listing] of the changes made to the census over the years starting in 1841. At the [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Census.html GENUKI] website you will find an excellent explanation of the census records and availability.&nbsp; (Examples of Census - [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/1841_British_Census_Example 1841], 1851, [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/1861_British_Census_Example 1861], 1871)&nbsp; NOTE: Many of the websites have not yet updated&nbsp;their pages to include the 1911 census.
 
'''Dates of the censuses''':&nbsp;
 
Since one of the main goals was to avoid double counting people, the enumeration districts were small enough for the census taker to complete his work in one day.&nbsp; The following list gives the dates for each of the available census years:&nbsp;
 
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 399px; height: 24px;"
|-
|
*1841:&nbsp; 6 June
*1851:&nbsp; 30 March
*1861:&nbsp; 7 April
*1871:&nbsp; 2 April
 
|
*1881:&nbsp; 3 April<br>
*1891:&nbsp; 5 April<br>
*1901:&nbsp; 31 March
*1911:&nbsp; 2 April
 
|
|}
 
=== Pre-1841 Census<br>  ===


The 1831 census was collated by the census office and the resulting Parish Register Abstracts form an important part of the published census material, because from it alone, the clergymen's manusript returns have survived. The records are held in the Pulic Record Office at Kew under Clergymen's returns of 1831 (HO71/1-HO71/124.)&nbsp;&nbsp;Detailed information on pre-1841 census records can be found in a 84-page book:  
The 1831 census was collated by the census office and the resulting Parish Register Abstracts form an important part of the published census material, because from it alone, the clergymen's manusript returns have survived. The records are held in the Pulic Record Office at Kew under Clergymen's returns of 1831 (HO71/1-HO71/124.)&nbsp;&nbsp;Detailed information on pre-1841 census records can be found in a 84-page book:  
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=== Registration Districts  ===
=== Registration Districts  ===


The census office organized the censuses by civil registration districts, which were subdivided into enumeration districts. The only exception is the 1841 census which was arranged by ''hundreds'' (administrative subdivisions of land). On the census films, each enumeration district includes a title page with the district number and a description of the area covered by the district.  
The census office organized the censuses by civil registration districts, which were subdivided into enumeration districts. The only exception is the 1841 census which was arranged by ''hundreds'' (administrative subdivisions of land). On the census films, each enumeration district includes a title page with the district number and a description of the area covered by the district.


== Finding and Using Census Records<br>  ==
== Finding and Using Census Records<br>  ==
BakerBH
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