Census Snippets

Census Dates and Census Returns

Dates

To prevent  double counting, people were listed  at the addresses where they were on census night, or to which they intended to return the following day after a night's work or travel. It is simplest to refer to the separate censuses by the dates either side of the midnight of census night.

• 6-7  June1841
• 30-31 March 1851
• 7-8 April 1861
• 2-3 April 1871
• 3-4 April 1881
• 5-6 April 1891
• 31 March -1 April 1901
• 2 - 3 April 1911
• 19-20th June 1921(delayed by strikes from April)
• The 1931 returns were destroyed by fire in WWII. 
• The 1941 census was not taken because of the war.

Census Returns

Brief overview

A census of the population of England & Wales was first taken in 1801, followed by others every 10 years except for 1941 when the country was again at war.

When decennial census taking was first mooted in 1800, the country was at war with France and was suffering bad harvests and food shortages - it would not be surprising if government wished  to find out more about the makeup of the population at large.

The range of questions asked were added to as the century progressed and social and medical scientists came to the fore.

After each census an official  Census Report was issued including all manner of statistics and commentary.

Apart from 1841 the censuses were held in the spring to avoid distortions caused by seasonal movement of agricultural workers in the summer months - see Census dates above

1801-31

These were taken for statistical purposes and contained no individual names as such (with some local exceptions). 
They were organised by one John Rickman who worked for the House of Commons,the parish based data collection  being  devolved to the officials of the Poor Law system and the established church.

Although there were differences between the 4 returns, the questions broadly revolved around ;

• numbers of inhabited/uninhabited houses, occupied by how many families
• numbers of persons  to be found in the parish, male/female
• numbers of people employed in agriculture, manufacture, retail, mining, fishing, servants, retired/disabled/

The clergy were also required to provide data on baptisms, marriages and burials for a range of dates over the previous century. 
An additional question in 1830 was the number of illegitimate children born in a parish.

1841      (The TNA reference is HO 107)

Following the establishment of a civil registration system, responsibility for census taking was taken over by the GRO in 1840. The census was also based on the new registration districts, themselves modelled on the older Poor Law unions which sometimes overlapped 2 or more counties - this latter fact should be kept in mind if having difficulty finding a particular place in what may seem to be the obvious enumeration district.

All that remained was for the registrars to divide their sub-districts into smaller enumeration districts (maximum 200 inhabited houses), and appoint an enumerator for each one.

Enumerators had to be able to read and write, be temperate, orderly and respectable - as an example, my gg grandfather, Benjamin Evans, schoolmaster, seems to have been the enumerator for Llanybyther in Carmarthenshire for the 1851 census.

See here for the detailed Instructions to the Enumerators from the 1841 Census

The census was held on a single night of the year (to avoid double counting), the idea being that they would include every person at a house "that night" - one apparent omission (in 1841 only) was not to give clear guidance to include night workers who would be returning to that residence next day, another was how to deal with lodgers and boarders. 
Household schedules (with instructions) were to be issued to each household ahead of  census night, to be completed by the householder and collected by the enumerator the day after census night. A Welsh translation of the schedule was available from 1841 onwards but the data provided had to be written in English. 
Should the householder have difficulties with completing the schedule the enumerator was required to assist and no doubt ended up completing some entirely - for example, it is recorded that in 1871, in Anglesey, the enumerator completed the majority. 
The schedules were then to be copied into printed books - it is digital copies of these enumerators' books that are now used for searching/transcribing/indexing.

This first  'named' census could be seen as something of a 'suck it and see' affair, it was designed to be as simple as possible -  the principal difference between it and those that followed is the absence of relationships shown between the residents; the requirement that ages were rounded down to the nearest multiple of 5, unless under 15; and that the place of birth question was only to say whether born in "the same county or not" (also whether born in Scotland, Ireland or Foreign parts). 
All factors which we genealogists now gripe about !

No named account was made of the crews/passengers of merchant vessels for this census, unless they were ashore of course. A head count was carried out. 
Neither was any count  taken of those aboard fishing vessels in this census, likewise itinerants/travellers which was unfortunate given the census was taken in June when annual movements were well under way.

Royal Navy personnel ashore on census night were fully enumerated as households or institutions. The position with those on board ship isn't  clear, a head count was carried out - if they existed no named returns seem to survive for 1841/51.

Soldiers serving abroad were never fully enumerated until 1911, those living in barracks within the UK were.

On this page on Ancestry.com (scroll down, down) there are details of 'known problems with the 1841 census'  for Wales (work back to find the England page)

Searchable indexes on Find my past

1851     (HO 107)

This census was a considerable improvement on 1841 - "relation to head" being introduced, also  marital status, and "where born" to include county and parish/town in that order.  A straight forward "Age" question replaced the convoluted rounding down  of 1841. The number of a house in a street was now to be included although that assumed that 'proper addresses' existed at all at this time in most places.

The first medical question appeared - householders were now asked to indicate if anyone was deaf, dumb or blind.

The position with the merchant marine, fishing vessels, inland navigation vessels, itinerants & travellers from 1851 onwards is too complex to describe here -  the book mentioned above has chapter and verse.

See below for Census instructions for 1851

Searchable indexes on Find my past

1861    (RG 9)

The storage of the 1861 returns in particular could be described as haphazard in the extreme and they didn't get into the safe hands of the PRO until the 1960s, unfortunately sections are permanently missing.

From 1861 commanding officers of Royal Navy ships, either in home of foreign waters, were required to fully enumerate their officers and crews.

On this page on Ancestry.com (scroll down, down) there are details of 'known problems with 1861 piece numbers' for Wales (work back to find the England page)

Searchable indexes on Find my past

1871    (RG 10)

The medical question was  expanded to include those who were 'imbeciles, idiots or lunatics'

Searchable indexes on Find my past

 

1881     (RG 11)

This return has been indexed/transcribed for the whole of the UK, a combined undertaking by the Genealogical Society of Utah [Mormons] and the FFHS, it is searchable online on their own site or Find my past

See 1881 census place name index for details of 1881 census Registration District overlaps  for All Wales/Mon and a place name index for the Dyfed and Glamorgan counties only. 

 

1891     (RG 12)

In 1891 & 1901 an extra question was introduced in Wales only to ascertain whether people spoke only Welsh, only English, or both.

Additional questions were introduced, namely boxes headed Employer/Employed/Neither

Searchable indexes on Find my past

1901      (RG 13)

See Find my past for a fully searchable index online .

See the Genuki pages;  Directions to Enumerators on the completion of 1901 Census Enumeration Books, and here for other census related odds and ends

1911 (RG14)

The surviving 1911 census pages consist of the original household pages and the enumerators' summary books.

See https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/census-land-and-surveys  for a fully searchable index online

On 1911 census co uk is a guidance section 

1921 census

The Census Returns become available for public inspection after 100 years, or 2022 in this case.

See Find my past for a fully searchable index online .

 

1931 census

The 1931 returns were destroyed by fire in WWII. 

1941 census

Not taken because of WWII

General notes and guidance

• See  Abbreviations for Relationships to heads of household on census returns
• There is an extensive list of places and parishes within the Dyfed counties with their respective hundreds  and census registration  districts on  the Dyfed FHS website.
• For Glamorgan, there is a  Class List produced by the PRO of places included in each part of each census - on this site under Class Lists for Glamorgan Censuses 1841/91  
• See also here for general information
• The National Archives have an online research guide
• There are a number of commercial organisations, as well as Family History Societies such as Glamorgan FHS, who sell Cds, or online access, of/to various UK censuses. 
  Some are name-indexed with transcriptions, others are only the digital images of the enumerators' books, mostly with some sort of street index etc.

Reading list;

• Making Sense of the Census Revisited  by Edward Higgs. University of London School of Advance Study/Inst. of Historical Research/TNA, 2005. 232p. Available from TNA   (The National Archives)
• Census: The expert guide  by Peter Christian and David Annal, (The National Archives, 2008)     Available from TNA   (The National Archives)
• Local census listings 1522-1930, Holdings in the British Isles by Jeremy Gibson and Mervyn Medlycott, (Federation of Family History Societies, third edition, 1997, reprinted 2001)

Census of the Population - 1851 - Instructions to the Householder

You are requested to insert the particulars specified on the other page, respecting all the persons who slept in your house on the night of March 30th, in compliance with an Act which was passed the House of Commons, and the House of Lords in the last session of Parliament, and received the assent of Her Majesty, the Queen, on 5th August, 1850.

This paper will be called for on Monday, March 31st, by the appointed Officer; and it will save trouble if, as the Act requires, you have the answers written in the proper columns by that time. It is his duty to verify the facts, and if you have omitted to comply with the above instruction, to record them at your residence on that day.

Persons who refuse to give correct information, incur a Penalty of Five Pounds; besides the inconvenience and annoyance of appearing before the Justice of the Peace, and being convicted of having made a wilful mis-statement of age, or of any of the other particulars.

The Return is required to enable the Secretary of State to complete the Census; which is to show the number of the population - their arrangement by ages and families in different ranks, professions, employments, and trades - their distribution over the country in villages, towns, and cities - their increase and progress in the last ten years.

General Instructions

This Schedule is to be filled up by the OCCUPIER or Person in charge of the house; if the house is let or sub-let to different persons or families, in separate stories or apartments, the OCCUPIER or Person in charge of each such story or apartment must make a separate return for its portion of the house upon a separate Householder's Schedule.

INSTRUCTIONS for filling up the Column headed "RANK, PROFESSION, or OCCUPATION."

The Superior Titles of PEERS and other PERSONS OF RANK to be inserted, as well as any high office which they may hold. Magistrates, Aldermen, and other important public officers to state their profession after their official title.

ARMY, NAVY, AND CIVIL SERVICE. - Add after the rank, "Army," "Artillery," "Royal Navy," "Marines," "East India Company's Service," as the case may be - distinguishing those on half-pay. Persons in the CIVIL SERVICE to state the Department to which they are attached, after their title or rank; those on the Superannuation to be so distinguished, and other Pensioners, to be clearly designated.

CLERGYMEN of the Church of England to return themselves as "Rector of ------," "Vicar of ------," "Curate of ------," &c., or as not having cure of souls. They are requested not to employ the indefinite term "Clerk." Presbyterian Ministers and Roman Catholic Priests, to return themselves as such, and to state the name of the church or chapel in which they officiate. Dissenting Ministers to return themselves as "Independent Minister of ------------ Chapel," &c. Local or occasional preachers must return their ordinary occupations.

LEGAL PROFESSION, - Barristers, to state whether or not in actual practice; Officers of any Court, &c. to state the description of office and name of Court. The designation "Attorney" or "Solicitor" to be confined to those whose names are actually upon the Roll. Persons in Solicitors' offices should distinguish whether "Solicitor's Managing, Articled, Writing, or General Clerk."

Members of the MEDICAL PROFESSION to state the University , College, or Hall, of which they are Graduates, Fellows or Licentiates - also whether they practice as Physician, Surgeon, or General Practitioner, or are "not practising."

PROFESSORS, TEACHERS, PUBLIC WRITERS, Authors, and Scientific men - to state the particular branch of Science or Literature which they teach or pursue; Artists, the art which they cultivate. Graduates should enter their degrees in this column.

PERSONS ENGAGED IN COMMERCE,  as Merchants, Brokers, Agents, Clerks, Commercial Travellers, to state the particular kind of business in which they are engaged, or the staple in which they deal.

The term FARMER is to be applied only to the occupier of land, who is to be returned - "Farmer of [317] acres employing {12} labourers;" the number of acres, and of in and out-door labourers, on March 31st, being in all cases inserted. Sons or daughters employed at home or on the farm, may be returned --- "Farmers' Son," "Farmer's Daughter."

In TRADES the Master is to be distinguished from the Journeyman and Apprentice, thus --- "(Carpenter -- Master employing {6} men);" inserting always the number of persons of the trade in his employment on March 31st.

In the case of WORKERS IN MINES OR MANUFACTURES, and generally in the constructive ARTS the particular branch of work. and the material, are always to be distinctly expressed if they are not implied in the names, as in Coal Miner, Brass-founder, Wool-carder, Silk-throwster. Where the trade is much sub-divided, both trade and branch are to be returned this --- "Watchmaker --- Finisher," "Printer --- Compositor,"

A person following more than one distinct trade may insert his occupation in the order of their importance.

MESSENGERS, PORTERS, LABOURERS and SERVANTS, to be described according to the place and nature of their employment.

Persons following no Profession, Trade or calling and holding no public office, but deriving the incomes chiefly from land, houses, mines, or other real property, from dividends, interest or money annuities, &c. may designate themselves "Landed Proprietor," "Proprietor of Iron Mines," "Proprietor of Houses," "Fund-holder," "Annuitant," &c., as the case may be. Persons of advanced age who have retired from business to be entered thus --- "Retired Silk Merchant," "Retired Watchmaker," &c.

ALMSPEOPLE, and persons in the receipt of parish relief should, after being described as such, have their previous occupations inserted.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN. --- The titles, occupations of ladies who are householders to be entered according to the above Instructions. The occupations of women who are regularly employed from home, or at home, in any but domestic duties to be distinctly recorded. So also of children and young persons. Against the names of children above five years of age, if daily attending school or receiving regular tuition under a master or governess at home, write "Scholar," and in the last case add "at home."

======================================================================================

LIST of the MEMBERS of this FAMILY, of VISITORS, and of SERVANTS, who SLEPT or ABODE in this House on the NIGHT of SUNDAY, MARCH 30th

Columns:-

NAME and SURNAME

No Person absent on the Night of March 30th to be entered.

Write after the Name of the Head of the Family, the Names of his Wife, Children, and others of the same Surname; then Visitors, Servants, &c.

RELATION to Head of Family

State whether Wife, Son, Daughter or other Relative, Visitor or Servant

CONDITION

Write "Married", "Widower," "Widow," or "Unmarried," against the Names of all Persons except Young Children

SEX

Write "M" against Males and "F" against Females

AGE [Last Birthday]

For Infants under One Year, state the Age in Months, writing "Under 1 Month," "1 Month," "2 Months," &c.

RANK, PROFESSION, or OCCUPATION

(Before filling in this Column, you are requested to read the Instructions on the other side.)

WHERE BORN

Opposite the Names of those born in England write the County, and Town or Parish.

If born in Scotland, Ireland, the British Colonies, the East Indies, or in Foreign Parts, state the Country: in the last case, if a British Subject, add, "British Subject."

If Deaf-and-Dumb or Blind

Write "Deaf-and-Dumb," or "Blind," opposite the Name of the Person.

(Brian Comley 2 Nov 2002)