Scotland Census
A census is a count and description of the population. Census records are a valuable source of genealogical information for Scotland, giving names, ages, and places of birth.
Various types of censuses have been taken by different British authorities for their own purposes. This section only discusses censuses intended to include the whole population.
Understanding the Census
The Scottish government has taken a census every ten years since 1801 except in 1941. The censuses from 1841 to 1891 are available for public use.
Census takers were instructed to list only those persons who spent the night in the household when the census was taken. People who were traveling, 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.
Dates the Scotland Census Taken each Census Year
| Year | Date Census Was Held | 1841 | 6 June 1841 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | 30 March 1851 | ||
| 1861 | 7 April 1861 | ||
| 1871 | 2 April 1871 | ||
| 1881 | 3 April 1881 | ||
| 1891 | 5 April 1891 | ||
| 1901 | 31 March 1901 |
You will find the following information in censuses:
1801 to 1831. These censuses contain only statistical information. However, some parishes compiled lists of names when they gathered the information needed for the census.
1841. The 1841 census was taken on 7 June 1841. It lists each member of every household with their name, sex, address, occupation, and whether or not they were born in the county.
The census takers usually rounded the ages of those over fifteen down to a multiple of five years. For example, someone who was actually fifty-nine would be listed as fifty-five.
1851 and Later. From 1851 to 1931, censuses were taken between 30 March and 7 April. These censuses list the names, ages, occupations, relationships to the head of the household, and parish and county of birth (except foreign births, which give country only) of each member of the household.
Finding Census Records
The Family History Library has 1841 through 1891 censuses on microfilm. To obtain the microfilm numbers, look in the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH] - CENSUS.
You can also obtain microfilm numbers from a register called:
Scottish Census. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989. (FHL Reg. 941 X2ce; fiche 6035795.)
The 1841 and 1851 censuses are listed twice in the catalog and in the Scottish Census, mentioned above. This is because these two censuses were microfilmed twice. There is little difference between the filmings.
You can also find census records at the:
Registrar General
Search Unit
New Register House
Edinburgh, EH1 3YT
Scotland
Telephone: 0131 334 0380
Internet: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/
Searching Census Records
When searching any census records, remember:
- Information may be incorrect.
- Accept the ages with caution.
- Given names may not be the same as the names recorded in church or vital records.
- Names may be spelled as they sound.
- Place-names may be misspelled.
- If the family is not at the expected address, search the surrounding area.
- When you find your family in one census, search the earlier or later census records to find additional family members.
- Individuals missing from a family may be listed elsewhere in the census.
- There could be more than one family in the same locality by the same name with very similar information. Check the census thoroughly.
- There could be surname or street indexes for the locality which can shorten the search.
- A woman, especially a widow, might be listed under her maiden name.
Census Indexes
Since more indexes to the Scottish census are becoming available, it is always wise to see whether a surname index or a street index exists before you search the actual census.
There are now Census index online at these sites:
Ancestry at: http://www.ancestry.co.uk This site has the 1841, 1851, and 1861 census as of March 2007. In the 1841 Census you will not get the images. You will get the names of the people, the place and parish number ( that is needed to do research in Scotland). The 1851-1891 Census also will give this same information as well as the parents name. Neither one of these will have images attached for you to see. The indexes are available only for you to see.
As you search this database you will be able to search many options such as:
- Occupation
- First Name
- Last Name
- Parents Names
- Spouses names
- County
- Town
- Civil Parish
- Year of birth
- Many other options are available
As you search any database you may need to keep in mind that the more information you put in you limit the number of searches and so you could end up missing the person you are actually looking for. So try your search with the least amount of needed information and then if you need, add more if your search is too wide.
As of April 1, 2007 Ancestry is no longer allowing Family History Centers to purchase independently commercial or library site licenses. However, you may choose to purchase a yearly subscription and use it within your own homes.
Scotlands People at: http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. This site is a subscription site and you buy 30 credits at a time. As you search this site anything you look at becomes your item and you never need to pay for that item again because you now own it. This site has the following census years available for you to search: 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1891, 1901. To view the images and to navigate back and forth it will cost you five credits per navigation unless you have viewed it and paid for it already.
The Census year 1881 has only the transcription with no image and this will only cost 1 credit to navigate back and forth for each navigation.
When using this site you search by name and many names will come up. You get to decide whether to choose any of the names or not. If you choose a name then it will tell you how many credits it will cost you to look at that image. You can then decide to look at the image or continue searching.
Some information will be needed to use this site such as:
- First and Last Name of the individual
- Parish number ( if you have it and it is available to you)
- name of Parish
- County.
This is all needed because many people in Scotland tend to have similar names and marry people with similar last names, so having a Margaret Cunningham married to James Tassie could render many results and you may not know which one is yours.
NOTE: for women, the maiden surname is on birth records and usually follows them in records this will show as M.S. (Maiden Surname). If the person had been previously married then it would say 'Formerly'. This is important for you to know as you search these records. This becomes helpful while searching Census records.
The following source lists some surname and street indexes:
Gibson, Jeremy, ed. Marriage, Census and Other Indexes for Family Historians. 6th ed. Birmingham: Federation of Family History Societies, 1996. (FHL book Ref 942 D22m 1996.)
Many family history societies are indexing census records, so it is good to check with a local society to see if they have a surname index to the census for their area. Other archives and repositories may also have indexes.
The Family History Library has some surname and street indexes. To find them, look in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
SCOTLAND - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES
SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES
SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH or TOWN] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES
1881 Surname Indexes. The entire 1881 Scottish census has been indexed. Each county has:
Indexes by surname, birthplace, and census place. A transcription of the census as it appears on the microfilm. The indexes and transcriptions are available on microfiche at the Family History Library, Family History Centers, the Registrar General, and at record offices and family history societies in the British Isles.
A national index for Scotland is also available. The national index consists of a surname index and a birthplace index. The county birthplace indexes are organized first by surname and then by birthplace. The national birthplace index is organized first by birthplace and then by surname.
To find the numbers for the 1881 census indexes, look in the Family History Library Catalog under:
SCOTLAND - CENSUS - [1881] - INDEXES
SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], - CENSUS - [1881] - INDEXES
Street Indexes. If possible, find your ancestor’s street address for the time period of the census you are searching. In larger towns or cities, an address will help you find your ancestor in a census, especially if a street index exists for the town. Knowing the address can also help you search other records.
You might find an address in letters, directories, civil registration certificates, church records, court records, and tax records.
Street indexes are available for some towns and cities in Scotland. You can find the indexes and the census film numbers in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES.
Street indexes are also listed in the front of the following register:
Scottish Censuses. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989. (FHL Reg 941 X2Ce; fiche 6035795.)
Additional information on the census is available by clicking here.