Census Records

Census records are one of the most important records available to people looking up their family history.

Not only are they easily accessible on line but they provide a wealth of information that helps to unlock new information about ancestors.

A census has been taken in England and Wales every 10 years since 1801 .

The census returns for 1841 to 1911 are now available online or at County Records Offices.

For family history purpose that means that older relatives born before 1841 are traceable as are babies born just before the census in 1911.

This spread will often cover people who were born in the late 1700's to people who died in the 1990's and 2000's.

Census Returns from 1801 to 1831

Sadly the census's from 1801 to 1831 are of limited value as they did not contain standardised information and were usually compiled by the Parish Overseer using his knowledge of the residents. Once compiled many of the returns were destroyed leaving only a small percentage available for research.

If they exist, census returns for this period are normally kept at County Records Office.

Census Returns from 1921 onwards

A guarantee of confidentiality was given  when the census's were taken which means that census returns from this period are not normally available to the public until 100 years has passed by which time most of the people named will have died.

Census Returns from 1841 to 1911

All of the Census's in this period are available online from several providers.

There is a charge for viewing which varies from a small charge to view one entry to a subscription allowing free access over a period if you want to research a family.

Access to the 1881 census has been made available free of charge by Family Search which has meant that several of the other commercial providers have followed suit making access to the basic details free of charge.

What information is contained on a census record?

The heading to a census page will provide the following information

The name of the Place, Parish and its status ( Hamlet, Village, Town or Borough)

The Street name

The house name or number  or in some rural areas the enumerators number

The person who is head of the household

The names of people at the address and their relationship to the head of the house

The matrimonial status of all people

Their age and sex

Their occupation

Their Birthplace

A comments section usually completed to mark a person as blind,deaf,dumb or mentally ill

Do all census's contain the above information?

All of the census will records the above information with the exception of 1841 which contained basic information of names , age and birthplaces.

What dates were the census' taken?

How do I search an online Census

Pay as you go or subscribe?

It depends how much use that you intend to make of the search facility.

If you only wish to confirm details that you already know or want to check out one or two family members then the best way is to purchase some credits allowing a few searches.

If you are starting in your family history search and will need to look up the whole of your family line then a subscription of up to 3 months may be best. If you are likely to be addicted to family history research then a years subscription offer the best value.

If in doubt but a few units and once you have experienced access to the census returns you can chosen which method is best for you.

Which online service is best?

Family Search offers free access to the 1881 UK Census but offers no other census's online.

FreeCEN is a project which aims to provide free census listings on line. At preset the material available varies according to area.

Ancestry offers access to Census from 1841 to 1901.

offers access to census from  to and is the only provider to offer access to the 1911 census.

Other providers offer a limited access to parts of the census.

Pricing and quality on the main providers is very similar for pay as you go use.

Subscriptions are similar and both offer a vast amount of additional material.

The best course of action is to visit the sites and check which of the material available is likely to be of most use to you with regard to your particular family history research.

How do I search the census online?

Searches can be made via names or addresses

The more specific details you put into the search box the more specific response you will receive!

If you are sure of the information that you have a full entry will probably result in an immediate positive result.

If you have any doubts then enter a few details. This will bring back a large number of possible matches which will require checking to identify the right entry.

Do you have any tips for searching?

Assumptions

Don't assume that the John Smith brought up on your search IS the John Smith that you have been searching for. Check the details thoroughly to make sure.

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Spelling

Spellings of surnames vary enormously as  in the 1800's only a small percentage of people could read or write. This meant that many people guessed at the spelling of their names and Johnson could become Johnsun,  Jonson. Johnstone, Johnston, Jonston, Jonstone,Jonsen, Jensen or even Chonsen.

Nicknames or shortened first names also feature so an entry for Margaret in 1861 may read Maggie in 1981 and then Peggy in 1881.

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Ages

Ages are also questionable with many people forgetting their ages or in some cases deliberately lying to appear older or younger than their actual age.

The age given was the age on the night that the census was taken and so estimates of years of birth must be regarded as accurate to within one year either way. A more accurate date of birth is obtained by checking the date that the census was taken although this is still not entirely reliable and is best regarded as an estimate.

When entering an age in a  online census search box it is safest to use the search for at least one year  plus or minus.

For the 1941 census enumerators rounded ages down to the nearest five years and often estimated the age of people. This give errors of up to 10 years.

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Birthplace

The birthplace normally relates to the parish where born. If people have moved to new places it often refers to a country of birth ie Scotland or a large town rather than the parish ie London  rather than Whitechapel.

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Relationships

Relationships are shown in the census.

Most are self explanatory - son, daughter, wife, lodger etc

These normally relate to the head of the house but occasionally a listing for a son should be recorded as grandson.

Head of the house is normally the husband although it can be a woman although this usually signifies an unmarried lady,  a widow or a wife whose husband is away at the time of the census.

Sometimes in laws were records as sister in law and sometimes just sister.

Likewise the terms nephews, nieces, uncles,aunts and cousins were frequently mixed.

A guest would be someone who was not a relative but was staying at the house on the night of the census but ordinarily lives elsewhere.

Take relationships as a guide but not as gospel!

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Handwriting / types transcriptions

The enumerators handwriting can be difficult to read.

Occasionally the transcribers of the census returns have recorded details incorrectly as they have been unable to read the handwriting of the enumerator.

This means that the information returned by a search can be incorrect.

If you can't find the person who you are searching for It is always worth checking the original entries of near misses on the census returns

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Records

Keep a copy of the census entries  that refer to your ancestors.

Information about their occupation or other people living at the address may prove valuable later in your research.