Jersey Census

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Jersey

Census

Online Resources

• 1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census ($) ; 1841 Channel Islands Census ($)
• 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census ($) ; 1851 Channel Islands Census ($)
• 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census ($) ; 1861 Channel Islands Census ($)
• 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census ($) ; 1871 Channel Islands Census ($)
• 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census ($) ; 1881 Channel Islands Census ($)
• 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census ($) ; 1891 Channel Islands Census ($)
• 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census ($) ; 1901 Channel Islands Census ($)
• 1911 Census For England & Wales ($) ; 1911 Channel Islands Census ($)
• German Occupation Registration Cards
• Jersey, Alien Registration Cards, 1920-1953

Introduction

A census is a statistical count and description of the population of a country taken for the purpose of accurate government representation, tax collection, and military purposes. Census records are a valuable source of genealogical information for Jersey because they list names, relationships, ages, places of birth, and marital statuses.

Censuses were taken in Jersey every ten years beginning in 1841. These censuses correspond with the censuses taken in England, Scotland, and Wales. Other censuses were locally taken.

Census Records

1841-1911

Jersey Census records broadly follow the pattern of UK Censuses during this period, although technically they had to be done under separate legislation. They can be viewed online at various subscription websites (see the "Online Resources" heading above).

The Channel Island Family History Society have transcribed all of the Jersey Census records from 1841 - 1911 and created an all island name index for each census to enable easier searching. These are available to view at the Jersey Archive where the society holds it records and also at the Jersey Library and the Lord Coutanche Library at the Societe Jersiaise.

Census Surname Indexes

Some places have been indexed for specific census years. Click here (Channel Islands Surname Index) to see a list of the census surname indexes for local places and parishes in these islands acquired by and available at the FamilySearch Library.

Local Censuses

Local census records fall into three groups:

• The 1788 Census was a statistical survey of population much like the 1801-31 censuses in England. Most of the Island simply provided returns of numbers of people residing in each vingtaine. However, the Parish of St Lawrence provided a complete listing of every name in the parish.

The census takers followed Jersey legal custom and recorded wives in their maiden (not their married) names. If you have relatives in amongst this relatively small community it can provide significant leads into family history. The Census was reproduced in early issues of the CIFHS's Journal.

• General Don's Censuses were taken in 1806 and 1815. General George Don was the island's Governor during the Napoleonic wars, and at his initiative a major programme of works was undertaken to strengthen the island's defences against possible invasion from France, a mere seven miles away at its nearest point. The Census was taken primarily to establish the numbers of males eligible to serve in the Jersey Militia, and as a consequence it records the names of men, but only the numbers of women and children in the same household. Copies of the census listings exist in the Jersey Archive.

The final group isn't technically a census; however, during the Occupation of Jersey between 1940 and 1945 all those resident on the island were required to register at their local parish hall and receive an identity card, which then had to be carried at all times. The registration forms were blue, and local family historians refer to them as blue cards.

• German Occupation Registration Cards were issued to everyone remaining in the island over the age of 14 years in January 1941, and carried names, addresses, dates of birth and photographs. The details of children under the age of 14 were written on the back of a parent's card. When the Occupation ended the master index was acquired by the States of Jersey, and all 30000+ extant cards can be searched online at Jersey Archives and Collections Online and Ancestry.

It is important to point out that some cards and records were destroyed during the war by the authorities (simply because when people died, the authorities did not want the cards to be available for misuse), but these are a small percentage of the whole.