Census tips, England &Wales

Date: 1831 [unknown]
Location: United Kingdom
Surname/tag: census england wales

Tips for getting the most out of the Census in England and Wales.

Contents 1 Where to find transcriptions 2 Census dates 3 What is included, by year 4 What the transcriptions don't tell you 5 Common "untruths" in the census 6 The 1939 register - what is in it and what is missing 7 Analysing Census Data – House Numbering and Common Errors

Where to find transcriptions

Census dates

It can be useful to know the exact date the census was taken (e.g. to reckon if a birth or death should be in that year's census).

The normal census was usually held on a Sunday. In the special case of the 1939 register it was a Friday. These are the censuses which have been published ( a 100 year rule applies):

Census dates

Year	Date taken
1841	6 Jun 1841
1851	30 Mar 1851
1861	7 Apr 1861
1871	2 Apr 1871
1881	3 Apr 1881
1891	5 Apr 1891
1901	31 Mar 1901
1911	2 Apr 1911
1921	19 Jun 1921
1939	29 Sep 1939

Census dates: Wikipedia

What is included, by year

The address of the household was recorded; the following are the personal details recorded:

• 1841
  • first & last names
  • age (rounded down to nearest five years if aged 15 or over)
  • sex
  • occupation
  • whether born in the county (Y or N)
  • whether born in Scotland (S), Ireland (I) or Foreign Parts (P)
• 1851
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • marital status
  • age
  • sex
  • occupation
  • where born (county & parish)
  • infirmity
• 1861
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • marital status
  • age
  • sex
  • occupation
  • where born (county & parish)
  • infirmity
• 1871
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • marital status
  • age
  • sex
  • occupation
  • where born (county & parish)
  • infirmity
• 1881
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • marital status
  • age
  • sex
  • occupation
  • where born (county & parish)
  • infirmity
• 1891
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • marital status
  • age
  • sex
  • occupation
  • employer, employed, or neither
  • language (Wales only)
  • where born (county & parish)
  • infirmity
• 1901
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • marital status
  • age
  • sex
  • occupation
  • employer, worker, or own account
  • working at home
  • language (Isle of Man only)
  • where born (county & parish)
  • infirmity
• 1911
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • age in years and months
  • sex
  • years married, numbers of children
  • marital status or orphan status
  • occupation, industry
  • employer, worker, or own account
  • working at home
  • birthplace & nationality
  • infirmity
  • language (Isle of Man only)
• 1921
  • first, middle & last names
  • relationship to head of household
  • age in years and months
  • sex
  • years married, numbers of children
  • marital status or orphan status
  • birthplace & nationality
  • occupation
  • employment, place of work
  • number and ages of living children
  • language (Isle of Man only)

Census records: The National Archives

What the transcriptions don't tell you

The transcriptions are very often not the "whole truth and nothing but the truth" - so do look at the original if you can! But you can't do that if you use only FamilySearch.

• Many transcriptions take liberties with place names - frequently omitting a town name and/or adding a county and country (which may not be correct)
• Occupations too are often omitted.
• Spellings can be misleading - it's worth checking maps, including old maps (e.g. Side by side map viewer)

Common "untruths" in the census

Sometimes the transcription states something which has no basis in fact.

That could be the county name, for example, especially if the county wasn't stated in the original. The transcriber made a guess, and it was wrong!

The 1939 register - what is in it and what is missing

Analysing Census Data – House Numbering and Common Errors

When working with early census data, it’s essential to approach it with caution due to inconsistencies in house numbering and other common issues. As highlighted in The Postal Museum blog on house numbering, street numbering was far from standardised. Numbers could change, be skipped, or be influenced by residents favouring house names over numbers.

Additionally, there are several pitfalls to be aware of when analysing census records:

• Collection Errors: Census enumerators usually spoke only to the household head or spouse, which could lead to inaccuracies in recording details for other household members.
• Coverage Errors: Individuals might have been accidentally omitted from or duplicated in the census, creating gaps or confusion.
• Spelling Errors: Enumerators often wrote names phonetically, leading to variations or errors in spelling.

Key Tips:

• Cross-check census entries with maps, directories, and other local records to confirm details.
• Be mindful that addresses, names, and family details might not be entirely accurate.
• Use corroborative evidence wherever possible to build a clearer picture.

By recognising these potential errors, you can navigate early census records more effectively and avoid common pitfalls!

Thank you Serowka-1!