Which census records are available

Inhabitants were asked whether they were born in the county they were currently living in and whether they had been born abroad including Scotland and Ireland. The UK census records are widely available online both on subscription and free websites. Because census records were recorded in pencil, they can sometimes be very faint and difficult to read.

Ancestry rephotographed some pages making them easier to read but on other pages TheGenealogist has digitally enhanced the images making them easier to read.

Similarly some pages are easier to read on Findmypast. If you cannot read an entry, try looking at the same example on a different website. Occupation indexed only for Scotland.

The site also has census search forms filled in by people claiming an Irish pension checked against the and census. Familysearch Basic index shared with Findmypast for England and Wales the index is free but images are not included. Index and images for the small number of surviving Irish records from NAI see above.

Occupations not indexed. Findmypast Index and images for England and Wales, index-only for Scotland. Irish index to some NAI records. The British and Irish census records are available in all Findmypast subscription tiers.

Freecen Great free index for England, Wales and Scotland. Good search options including occupation. No images. Not every county is complete yet. ScotlandsPeople Images and an index of Scottish census records. TheGenealogist Index and clear images of census records for both England and Wales and indexes for Scotland. Occupation indexed. The census records gradually became more detailed with every decade that passed.

Marital statuses were given from , as well as the relationship between each person and the head of the household. Ages also became more accurate as well as information about where someone was born. Address — Street and house name or number were included in the census records.

From uninhabited houses were also recorded. Name — Full names for all occupants were given although usually just initials for middle names. In some institutions, especially prisons, just initials for both first and last names were given.

Relation to head of household — Wife, son, dau daughter are the most common family ones but you may find extended family there as well as servants and lodgers. Institutions would have inmates, pupils, patients, staff etc. Age — Unlike previous census records, ages were recorded accurately or as accurately as the inhabitant knew or cared to give. There were two columns, one to record the ages of male inhabitants and one for female. Rank, profession or occupation — Wives are often left blank even though they may have worked.

From further columns were added asking if someone was an employer, an employee or neither. Where born — More complete details were now required, including town or village and county.

Those born abroad, including Ireland, only had to provide the name of the country. Education — From onwards, Scotland administered its own census and could add its own questions. In and Scotland asked how many children between 5 and 15 were being educated at school or at home.

Housing condition — The to censuses in Scotland asked how many rooms had one or more windows. This was a reaction to concern about housing conditions. In and English and Welsh households had to say how many rooms they inhabited if it was less than five to assess the issue of overcrowding. In a similar question was added to the Welsh census asking inhabitants if they spoke Welsh.

It was not until that Welsh language schedules were provided for Welsh speakers. The information included on the census records was similar to that on the census with one notable exception. To get a better understanding of fertility, population growth and infant mortality, questions were added relating to children born within a marriage. The married women were to state how many years the present marriage had lasted and how many children had been born alive to that marriage along with how many had died and how many were still alive.

As these questions were new, they confused some households who sometimes included children they had with previous marriages or children who had been born out of wedlock.

Some people even enumerated their dead children, providing names and other details invaluable to family historians! Ancestry Index and images for England and Wales. Also Irish census records can be searched from here.

FamilySearch Basic index shared with Findmypast for England and Wales the index is free but images are not included. Also Irish census records can be searched from here and links through to the National Archives of Ireland website above. Findmypast Index and images for England and Wales. ScotlandsPeople The only place online where you can access an index and images of the Scottish census records.

TheGenealogist Index and images of census records for both England and Wales. Sign up to receive our newsletter! Already have an account with us? Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. You can unsubscribe at any time. Home Getting started What census records are available? This article contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more.

The census was taken on 10 March during the Napoleonic Wars and was intended to gather statistical information to manage increasing demand for food and gauge how many men were of military age. There was no set pre-printed form for enumerators, so information was recorded differently depending on the area. On the whole the census records show: Street — Sometimes names of houses were included but houses rarely had numbers at this time.

Head of household — Only the head of each household is usually recorded although sometimes, for example in Illington, Norfolk, the enumerator recorded the names of everyone. Living quarters — People were asked whether the family lived in the cellar, back house or front house.

Those living in the back house may have had a shop or business at the front. Number of families — Some houses had multiple families living in them. Occupation — This recorded whether the head of the household was employed in agriculture; trade, manufacturing or handicraft; or other. The census records for Liverpool are available on Findmypast Findmypast. Although a national collection of the has not survived, some indexes and images are online or links to surviving collections.

Norfolk Walsall. The census was taken on 27 May The notebooks compiled by the enumerators were not required by the census authority. The first Federal Population Census was taken in , and has been taken every ten years since. However, data from recent censuses are not available after because of a year restriction on access to the Census.

Most researchers find it most helpful to begin with the Census and work backwards to locate people in earlier generations. The National Archives has the census schedules on microfilm available from to , and free online access is available through our digitization partners at any National Archives facility. Please note: Most of the Census was destroyed in a Department of Commerce fire, though partial records are available for some states. Census records can provide the building blocks of your research, allowing you to both confirm information, and to learn more.

Not all of this kind of information is available in every census.