[Research Guidance: Scotland - Research Outline] Research Guidance Version Of Data : 6/9/2001

Table of Contents
Introduction
     Obtaining Copies Of Publications
     Using This Outline
Scottish Search Strategies
Records At The Family History Library
The Family History Library Catalog
     Records Selection Table: Scotland
Archives And Libraries
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Directories
Church History
Church Records
     Nonconformist Church Records
Civil Registration
     General Historical Background
     Information Recorded In Civil Registers
     Finding Civil Registration Records
     Indexes To Civil Registration Records
Court Records
     Types Of Courts
     Finding Court Records
     For More Information
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
     General Background
     Emigration From Scotland
     Records Of Scottish Emigrants In Their Destination Countries
     Immigration Into Scotland
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Heraldry
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Language And Languages
Maps
Merchant Marine
Military Records
     Army
     Navy
     Militia
     Other Branches Of The Military
     Handbooks On Military History And Military Records
Names, Personal
Newspapers
Nobility
Occupations
Periodicals
Probate Records
     Determining The Court
     Finding Probate Records
     Indexes To Probate Records
     Difficulties In Finding A Probate Record
Poorhouses, Poor Law, Etc.
Schools
Societies
Taxation
Other Records For Scotland
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

CENSUS

A census is a count and description of the population. Census records are a valuable source of genealogical information for Scotland, giving names, ages, and places of birth.

Various types of censuses have been taken by different British authorities for their own purposes. This section only discusses censuses intended to include the whole population.

Understanding the Census

The Scottish government has taken a census every ten years since 1801 except in 1941. The censuses from 1841 to 1891 are available for public use.

Census takers were instructed to list only those persons who spent the night in the household when the census was taken. People who were traveling, at boarding schools, or working away from home are listed where they spent the night. For example, night watchmen are often listed at their employer’s business address rather than with their families.

You will find the following information in censuses:

1801 to 1831. These censuses contain only statistical information. However, some parishes compiled lists of names when they gathered the information needed for the census.

1841. The 1841 census was taken on 7 June 1841. It lists each member of every household with their name, sex, address, occupation, and whether or not they were born in the county.

The census takers usually rounded the ages of those over fifteen down to a multiple of five years. For example, someone who was actually fifty-nine would be listed as fifty-five.

1851 and Later. From 1851 to 1931, censuses were taken between 31 March and 9 April. These censuses list the names, ages, occupations, relationships to the head of the household, and parish and county of birth (except foreign births, which give country only) of each member of the household.

Finding Census Records

The Family History Library has 1841 through 1891 censuses on microfilm. To obtain the microfilm numbers, look in the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH] - CENSUS.

You can also obtain microfilm numbers from a register called:

Scottish Census. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989. (FHL Reg. 941 X2ce; fiche 6035795.)

The 1841 and 1851 censuses are listed twice in the catalog and in the Scottish Census, mentioned above. This is because these two censuses were microfilmed twice. There is little difference between the filmings.

You can also find census records at the:

Registrar General
Search Unit
New Register House
Edinburgh, EH1 3YT
Scotland

Searching Census Records

When searching any census records, remember:

Information may be incorrect.
Accept the ages with caution.
Given names may not be the same as the names recorded in church or vital records.
Names may be spelled as they sound.
Place-names may be misspelled.
If the family is not at the expected address, search the surrounding area.
When you find your family in one census, search the earlier or later census records to find additional family members.
Individuals missing from a family may be listed elsewhere in the census.
There could be more than one family in the same locality by the same name with very similar information. Check the census thoroughly.
There could be surname or street indexes for the locality which can shorten the search.
A woman, especially a widow, might be listed under her maiden name.

Census Indexes

Since more indexes to the Scottish census are becoming available, it is always wise to see whether a surname index or a street index exists before you search the actual census.

The following source lists some surname and street indexes:

Gibson, Jeremy, ed. Marriage, Census and Other Indexes for Family Historians. 6th ed. Birmingham: Federation of Family History Societies, 1996. (FHL book Ref 942 D22m 1996.)

Many family history societies are indexing census records, so it is good to check with a local society to see if they have a surname index to the census for their area. Other archives and repositories may also have indexes.

The Family History Library has some surname and street indexes. To find them, look in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

SCOTLAND - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXESSCOTLAND, [COUNTY], - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXESSCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH or TOWN] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES

1881 Surname Indexes. The entire 1881 Scottish census has been indexed. Each county has:

Indexes by surname, birthplace, and census place.
A transcription of the census as it appears on the microfilm.

The indexes and transcriptions are available on microfiche at the Family History Library, Family History Centers, the Registrar General, and at record offices and family history societies in the British Isles.

A national index for Scotland is also available. The national index consists of a surname index and a birthplace index. The county birthplace indexes are organized first by surname and then by birthplace. The national birthplace index is organized first by birthplace and then by surname.

To find the numbers for the 1881 census indexes, look in the Family History Library Catalog under:

SCOTLAND - CENSUS - [1881] - INDEXESSCOTLAND, [COUNTY], - CENSUS - [1881] - INDEXES

Street Indexes. If possible, find your ancestor’s street address for the time period of the census you are searching. In larger towns or cities, an address will help you find your ancestor in a census, especially if a street index exists for the town. Knowing the address can also help you search other records.

You might find an address in letters, directories, civil registration certificates, church records, court records, and tax records.

Street indexes are available for some towns and cities in Scotland. You can find the indexes and the census film numbers in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES.

Street indexes are also listed in the front of the following register:

Scottish Censuses. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989. (FHL Reg 941 X2Ce; fiche 6035795.)

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