Scotland Census, 1841 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Scotland

What is in This Collection?
The British government has taken censuses every 10 years since 1801. This census was enumerated on 7 June 1841.

Census schedules consist of large sheets with preprinted rows and columns. The schedules are arranged by county and then divided by civil parish. Some are further subdivided into smaller enumeration districts, each district being an area that could be enumerated in a day. The 1841 census was arranged by “hundreds” (administrative subdivisions of land). The information was recorded in columns on two pages that face each other. For reference purposes, the National Archives assigned a piece number to each enumeration district and stamped a folio number in the upper right corner of each right-side page.

The original schedules are well preserved and housed at the Public Records Office in Kew. Microfilm copies are located at the Family History Library, at the Family Records Centre in England, and at county record offices and some libraries. Parts of the 1841 census are faint and sometimes unreadable. This has occurred through damage or neglect in storing the records. An attempt is now being made to preserve the records by transcribing and publishing them. Some of these preservation efforts are being published in book form, while others are being posted on the Internet.

The Registrar General created the national censuses of the British population. However, the actual gathering of information was usually done by the Home Office of each county with assistance from the county sheriff. The census was completed in one day, then the census books were sent to the Registrar General’s office in London. Almost all of the residents of Scotland are included in the census.

The Registrar General created censuses for several reasons, including population studies, accessing military readiness, compiling lists of eligible voters, and tracking relief to the poor.

The information gathered by the census taker is only as reliable as the person who provided the information. While some information may not be completely accurate, it can still provide important clues in locating an ancestor. Enumerators went door to door collecting the data in census books. The census takers listed only those who spent the night in each household, so individuals who were traveling or at school were listed where they spent the night.

For this census, enumerators were instructed to round down the ages of persons 15 years and over to the nearest five years. For example, someone who is 32 would be listed as 30; someone who is 49 would be listed as 45. As a result, ages recorded could be very different from the actual age. You will find instances where enumerators did not adhere to this instruction on age and inserted the given age.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name
 * Gender
 * Age
 * Estimated Birth Year
 * Birthplace


 * Relationship
 * Occupation
 * Residence

Collection Content
Sample of indexed information:

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name and age of the person you are looking for
 * Residence
 * Names and ages of members of the household at the time of the census

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the birth year and birth place to search for birth records
 * If the person is married, search for a marriage record
 * Continue to look in other census records for the individual
 * Look for the families of children in later census years

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Given names may not be the same as a name recorded in church or vital records
 * Names may be spelled phonetically (or as they sounded to the census taker)
 * Place-names may be misspelled
 * Individuals missing from a family may be listed elsewhere in the census
 * Children might have taken the name of the stepfather if the mother remarried
 * The family name may have been altered after emigration from Scotland
 * Look for people who have the same surname as your ancestor and who live in the same vicinity; they may be related
 * You may have to read around marks made by the clerks who compiled the census data. These marks sometimes obscure the information

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Scotland.
 * Scotland Guided Research
 * Scotland Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.