England | Civil Registration | Church Records | Census Online Indexes

Introduction

A census is a statistical count of the population of a country taken for the purpose of accurate government representation, tax collection and military purposes. In England, the first government census was taken in 1801.

The first census listing people by name was taken in 1841 with the census traditionally being taken every ten years since then except for 1941 (due to WW II). The 1931 census was destroyed during WW II. Census records are generally released 100 years after they are taken. These records are one of the best ways to locate ancestors at a given place and time.

Although the 1841 census is of great value, it had some limitations. It was originally produced on blue paper and inscribed with pencil. Many of the original images on film were very poor but the digital quality has improved them. In the 1841 censu, relationships were not given, the age of individuals older than 15 years was rounded down, and specific birthplaces were not provided. The 1851 census and subsequent censuses provide more detailed information, making it easier to find family members.

Further information: Further Information and Descriptionand Lost or Missing England Census Records

Understanding the Census

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.

Be aware of the date of each census for family members as that will help in determining the birth year for family members as it is reported. The date that each census was taken is as follows:

1841 – June 7                1851 – March 31
1861 – April 8                1871 – April 3
1881 – April 4                1891 – April 6
1901 – April 1                1911 – April 2

The following information can be found in the censuses:

1841

Name of each member of the household
Sex/gender
Age (for adults 15 and up, the age was rounded down to the lower multiple of 5)
Address
Occupation
Whether or not the individual was born in the county in which they were living on June 6, 1841. (If it is ‘yes’ , it is noted with “Y” and for ‘no’ it is noted with “N”.)
A column indicating if born out of the country, i.e. “S” for Scotland; “I” for Ireland

1851 and later

Name of each member of the household
Sex/gender
Age – hopefully exact
Relationship to the head of the household
Condition – marital status
Occupation
Parish and county of birth (except foreign births, which usually gave country only)
The 1851 and 1861 censuses list whether a person was "blind, deaf, or idiot."
The 1871 and 1881 censuses list whether a person was considered an "imbecile, idiot, or lunatic."
The 1891 census added the number of rooms (if less than 5) that the family occupied. It also listed whether the person was an employer or an employee.

See a detailed listing of the changes made to the census over the years starting in 1841. At the GENUKI website (www.genuki.org.uk) there is an excellent explanation of the census records and availability. (Examples of Census - 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871) NOTE: Many of the websites have not yet updated their pages to include the 1911 census.

The census can also provide a good approximation of date and place of deaths and marriages. Census records are used in combination with church records and civil registration records in locating ancestors.

Pre-1841 Census

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 at The National Archives of the UK under 'Clergymen's returns of 1831' (HO71/1-HO71/124.) Detailed information on pre-1841 census records can be found in:
Chapman, Colin R., Pre-1841 Censuses and Population Listings in the British Isles. Dursley, Gloucestershire, England : Lochin Publishing, 1998 (5th ed). (Family History Library book )
Pre-1841 censuses generally contain only numbers of individuals in a household, but some do contain individual names of the head-of-household.

Finding and Using Census Indexes

Historical populations
	Source: 1931 Census

Many repositories, including the Family History Library, hold a number of indexes to the census records. They may be:
• Original Census records from 1841-1891
• Surname Indexes
• Street Indexes
• Some remnants of 1801-1831 censuses that include names

Online

Several websites have now published online many of the census indexes and records from 1841-1901. There is only one site that provides access to the 1911 census on the internet at the present time. The sites are as follows:

www.familysearch.org - 1881 census free
www.genuki.org.uk – links to indexes
www.ancestry.co.uk
www.findmypast.co.uk
www.thegenealogist.co.uk

For the 1911 census: www.findmypast.co.uk

Finding and Using Census Records

Census records are more easily available than ever before. Caution should be used when searching them for family members. Never assume what isn’t there or “leap” generations in linking individuals.

IMPORTANT SEARCHING POINTS

A number of items need to be considered while searching census records for family members:
1.   Names may be misspelled – both Christian and surnames could have variant spellings.
2.   Ages and birthplaces may not be accurate – consider who was reporting the information.
3.   Relationships may not be expressed in terms understood today – regionally “in law” and “step” are

          terms that have different meanings.
4.   Jurisdictions changed – as population grew and shifted, jurisdictions changed.
5.   People may not be where they are expected – a disaster or plague may have forced family to move.
6.   Pages may be unreadable – use “zoom” and other enhancements on digital copiers.

Further information: England Census: Further Information and Description

Census details changed little from year to year. See a detailed listing of the changes made to the census over the years starting in 1841. At the GENUKI website you will find an excellent explanation of the census records and availability. (Examples of Census - 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871) NOTE: Many of the websites have not yet updated their pages to include the 1911 census.

Pre-1841 Census

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 at The National Archives of the UK under 'Clergymen's returns of 1831' (HO71/1-HO71/124.) Detailed information on pre-1841 census records can be found in:

Chapman, Colin R., Pre-1841 Censuses and Population Listings in the British Isles. Dursley, Gloucestershire, England : Lochin Publishing, 1998 (5th ed). (Family History Library book 942 X27cc, 1998)

Pre-1841 censuses generally contain only numbers of individuals in a household, but some do contain individual names of the head-of-household.

Further information: England Census: Further Information and Description

A worksheet can be used to record information found in census records.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1801	8,305,362	—
1811	9,553,021	15.0%
1821	11,281,883	18.1%
1831	12,992,485	15.2%
1841	15,002,443	15.5%
1851	16,921,888	12.8%
1861	18,779,811	11.0%
1871	21,495,131	14.5%
1881	24,613,926	14.5%
1891	27,231,074	10.6%
1901	30,514,967	12.1%
1911	33,649,571	10.3%
1921	35,230,225	4.7%
1931	37,359,045	6.0%
Source: 1931 Census