The census returns 1841 - 1901

A census was taken every 10 years from 1810 but, the census taken between 1810 and 1831 were of little use to genealogists since they recorded only the numbers in each household. From 1841 the census is of use. The census was taken as of midnight on Sunday/Monday
1841 Sun/Mon. 6/7th June 1841
1851 Sun/Mon. 30/31st March 1851
1861 Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
1871 Sun/Mon. 2/3rd April 1871
1881 Sun/Mon. 3/4th April 1881
1891 Sun/Mon. 5/6th April 1891
1901 Sun/Mon. 31st March / 1st April 1901
1911 Not yet available

The following details were recorded in the census of 1841:

  1. Address (vague)
  2. Names
  3. Age (a) 15 and under exact age (b) over 15 recorded to the lowest 5 years e.g. someone age 56, 57, 58 or 59 would be recorded as 55.
  4. Occupation of each individual
  5. Whether born in this country - recorded as Yes/Y or country of birth

    Example: Quality Row Newcastle on Tyne All Saints Parish
    Name
    Age
    Occupation
    Whether born in this county
    Ann Gullon
    30
    -
    Yes
    John do
    13
    -
    Y
    Ann do
    11
    -
    Y
    Robert do
    9
    -
    Y
    Thomas do
    4
    -
    Y
    Charles do
    2 mths
    -
    Y

Format of the 1851 - 1891 census

  1. Road, street, number or name of house
  2. Whether the house is inhabited or not
  3. Name and surname of each person
  4. Relationship to head of house
  5. Married/Unmarried
  6. Age last birthday
  7. Profession
  8. Whether employed or not
  9. Place of birth
  10. Whether blind/insane/feeble minded

The 1901 census in addition asked details about whether the house was being built and expanded the employment section to ask if the individual was working at home

Beware of (a) lies about age (b) a 2nd wife may not be mother of children listed as son/daughter

    Example: No 71 42 Albion Row All Saints Byker Newcastle on Tyne
    Name
    		 Relation to head of household Married/Unmarried
    Age
    Occupation
    Place of birth
    Blind/Insane
    Male Female
    Robert Gullon head
    Mar
    47
     
    		 Shipwright
    Nthmb, Balast Hills
     
    Ann
    do
    wife
    do
     
    45
    Shipwright's wife
    do
     
    Robert
    do
    son
    u
    18
     
    hosemaker
    A.S.
    		  
    Thomas
    do
    do
    u
    13
     
    do
    A.S.
    		  
    Charles
    do
    do
    u
    11
     
    scholar
    AS
    		  
    Hannah
    do
    dau
    u
     
    9
    do
    AS
    		  
    Rachel
    do
    do
    u
     
    5
    do
    AS
    		  
    James
    do
    son
    u
    3
     
    		  
    AS
    		  

    Use the census records to find where and when an ancestor was born

    It is possible to obtain more recent information from the census. You will need to provide the exact address and name, give your reason for requiring the information, prove you're a descendant and if anyone on the record is still alive, get their permission to obtain the data. There is a fee for obtaining this information.

    One of the most useful census records is that of 1881. The entire census has been copied to CD Roms and can be searched. Your local genealogical library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will have a copy. You might also check your local library for this. A note of warning, not everyone has told the truth on the census. Enumerators made mistakes. Spelling can be phonically interpreted. As an example, I was unable to find my ancestor, James Marr, although I knew his exact address at the time of the 1881 census. I eventually found him under the name, James Mure.

    A note about spelling. Spelling has only been standardised in the UK since 1870

    The 1901 census has now been released for public viewing by the Public Record Office. The census is available on-line at http://www.pro.gov.uk/census/. A user is able to consult the indexes for free and search: by name, place, address, institution or vessel. Having found the record you will then be able to view a digital image of the census return. The image being the whole page from the enumerator's book in which the entry appears. This will cost 75p. Alternatively you may view the details for an individual transcribed from the census returns. This will cost 50p or £1.00 to view the details of a whole family. Payments may be made by credit card with a minimum charge of £5. The funds generated will be used to make the earlier census records available in the same way.

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