England Census

= England Census =

A census is a count and description of the population. The foundation of nineteenth century research relies on census records. It tells you where they are, where they were born, approximate year of birth, and what occupation they were engaged in. It puts families together in time and place. It leads you to the parish where they were born. It can provide a good approximation to date and place of deaths and marriages. The first census available is 1841 and every ten years thereafter. The 1911 census is the most recent one to be released to the public.

Various companies have indexed the census records. Every census is indexed and can be searched online by name, age, birthplace, or locality. The indexes can be problematic in that names can be spelled in various ways and indexers fail to interpret the spellings correctly. If you cannot find a person it means you need to vary your search parameters. The information in an index may be incorrect or incomplete. If you believe your ancestor was in a particular census area, search the census even if your ancestor is not in the index.

Understanding the Census
The 1841 census was taken on 7 June. The censuses taken between 1851 through 1931 were conducted between 31 March and 8 April. Instructions to the census taker were to list only those persons who spent the night in each household when the census was taken. Those traveling, staying at boarding schools, or working away from home were listed where they spent the night. For example, night watchmen are often listed under their employer’s business address rather than with their families.

You will find the following information in the censuses:

1841:  This census lists the members 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 older than 15 down to a multiple of 5. For example, a 59-year-old would be listed as 55.

1851 and later:  These censuses list the names, ages, occupations, relationships to the head of the household, and parish and county of birth (except foreign births, which may give country only) of each member of the household.

The census details have changed little from year to year. There is a detailed listing of the changes made to the census over the years starting in 1841. At GENUKI website you will find an excellent explanation of the census records and availability. (Examples of Census - 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871) NOTE: Many of the websites have not yet updated there pages to include the 1911 census.

The census office organized the censuses by civil registration districts, which were subdivided into enumeration districts. The only exception is the 1841 census which was arranged by hundreds (administrative subdivisions of land). On the census films, each enumeration district includes a title page with the district number and a description of the area covered by the district.

Searching Census Records
When searching census records, remember:


 * Accept the ages with caution.
 * Given names may not be the same as the name recorded in church or vital records.
 * Information may be incorrect.
 * 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.
 * Parts of the 1841 and 1861 censuses are faint and sometimes unreadable.
 * When you find your family in one census, search the earlier or later census records to find additional family members and to verify details.
 * Individuals missing from a family may be listed elsewhere in the census.
 * Search available census indexes before using the actual census records.
 * If possible, find your ancestor’s address for the time period of the census you are searching. In big cities an address will help you find your ancestor in a census, especially when street indexes exist for the city.

Finding Street addresses
Street Indexes. If you know the address where your ancestor may have lived, a street index can help you quickly find your ancestor in the census. Street indexes are available for major cities in England for each census year. Street indexes are available at the Family History Library in both book and microform. You can determine if a street index is available by looking in:

Register of Towns Indexed by Streets. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Family History Library, 1999. (FHL book 942 X22r; fiche 6026692, on two fiche.)

The following sources may help you find an address:


 * Old letters
 * City, occupational, postal, or commercial directories
 * Certificates of births, marriages, and deaths
 * Church records of christenings, marriages, and burials
 * Probate records
 * Newspaper notices
 * Court records
 * Tax records
 * Rate books
 * Voting registers or poll books

Census Records at the Family History Library
The Family History Library has online subscriptions to the census records from 1841 to 1901. It also has microfilm copies from 1841 to 1891. There is also street indexes for larger places for every year. With the advent of the online indexes and images the street indexes have become less relevant.

Census Records in the pre internet age
The library has a excellent collection of printed census indexes that have been created by family history societies in England.

Index of Place-names Showing the Library Microfilm Numbers for the 1841–1891 Census of England, Wales, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Family History Library, 1992. (FHL book 942 X2pi; fiche 6024509.)

In the British Reference area there is a Census Surname Index register that catologs all the printed surname indexes that the library has for each county. This register is not available in Family History Centers.

For surname indexes that are not at the Family History Library, look in: Gibson, Jeremy, and Elizabeth Hampson, Editors. Marriage and Census Indexes for Family Historians.

There are a few pre 1841 census records that survive: This booklet by Chapman lists some of them. Chapman, Colin R. Pre-1841 Censuses &amp; Population Listings in the British Isles. Fourth Edition. Dursley, England: Lochin Publishing, 1994. (FHL book 942 X27cc.)

Online Training from the Family History Library for the British Census
There is an online tutorial for the English census at familysearch.org. 

Census Indexes
Various companies have indexed the census records. Every census is indexed online and can be searched by name, age, birthplace, or locality. The indexes can be problematic in that names can be spelled in various ways and indexers fail to interpret the spellings correctly. If you cannot find a person it means you need to vary your search parameters. The information in an index may be incorrect or incomplete. If you believe your ancestor was in a particular census area, search the census even if your ancestor is not in the index.

A transcription and index to the 1881 census of England, Wales, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and the Royal Navy is online at familysearch.org. A compact disc version of the 1881 British Census and National Index is available for purchase. An explanation of the census index and microfiche version is online.

The 1851 census for the counties of Devon, Norfolk, and Warwick is transcribed and indexed. This index is available on microfiche and for purchase on compact disc.

The 1841 and 1861 England and Wales census indexes can be searched for free at the familysearch pilot site: (individuals only, no households)

A collection of British census records can be found by subscription at:


 * www.findmypast.co.uk (1841, 1861, 1871, 1891 are indexed with images. Searching by address is possible. 1881 is an index only, without images. 1851 and 1901 are very incomplete.) * www.ancestry.co.uk (All censuses for England and Wales between 1841 and 1901. No search by address is possible. Requires either a subscription to www.ancestry.co.uk or an international www.ancestry.com subscription. The library edition of the international subscription to www.ancestry.com is available for free at regional Family History Centers in the western part of the US, and at the London Family History Centre in London.) * www.thegenealogist.co.uk (All censuses for England and Wales between 1841 and 1901. Search by address or keyword or for a specific county only is possible. Requires a subscription.) * www.britishorigins.co.uk (Censuses for England and Wales for 1841 and 1861. Pay for view, no subscription possible.)

Indexes for parts of the full collection of British Censuses can be found here for free: (individuals and families)


 * Free CEN (from 1841 to 1891 see Percent completed list)

The 1901 census online site contains censuses from 1841 to 1891 and BMD at: (pay per view site)



The 1911 census online site contains a free searchable index.There are still five more counties to be added in the north of the country. (pay per view site). It costs to view transcriptions and images.

Tips on how to search the Family History Library Catalog
To find the microfilm numbers look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog, under: ENGLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH] - CENSUS

Follow these steps to find film numbers to census records in the Family History Library Catalog.

Go to www.familysearch.org. Put your cursor on the Library tab. Select Library Catalog from the drop-down list. Click on Place Search. Type the name of a parish or town, and click Search. Click on the link for the locality that you want. Scroll down the list of topics, and click on Census. Select the correct record from the list of titles that may be displayed. Click View Film Notes to see the film numbers for each census year.

To find census surname indexes look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES

ENGLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH or TOWN] -CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES

To look for a street index in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

ENGLAND - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES

ENGLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY, PARISH, or DISTRICT] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES