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Census Returns 1851 to 1901

A census of the entire population of Scotland (as well as England and Wales) has been taken at 10-year intervals from 1801. Statistics only were retained for the 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 returns, all names, etc. being destroyed. This means that the first census of use to genealogists is that for 1841. Census returns less than 100 years old are closed to family history researchers, which means that at present the genealogically useful and available returns are those for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901.

 

The situation in Ireland is not so good. The first census was in 1821. The 1861 to 1891 returns were destroyed by government edict, and the earlier ones in the troubles of 1922. Only fragments remain. This means that the 1901 returns are the first available to genealogists, and because of the dearth of sources, the 1911 returns have been made publicly available too.

 

The imaginary Scottish 1861 census beneath follows on from our marriage certificates page. Imagine that you subtracted Ann Othername's age, 24, from the marriage year of 1885. This gives you 1861. Since Scottish civil registration of births began in 1855, we can expect a birth certificate to exist for Ann Othername in or about 1861. Imagine that we find it and learn that she was born in Othertown on the first of March at 10 Wharf Street. The 1861 census was taken in April 1861, and like all the rest, is arranged in enumeration districts, by street or area. Here, beneath, then is the imaginary census return for 10 Wharf Street, Othertown:

 

Census 1861
Census 1861
Cenus Enumerator
Cenus Enumerator

It is important to remember that not all people welcomed the census enumerator to their house, and there is evidence that some were very off-hand with their information, and if there were things that the family regarded as embarrassing or shameful (and the Victorians were particularly prone to do so), then the information sometimes contains half-truths or even a cover-up!.

 

Ages must be regarded with caution, and remember that most people will not have reached their birthday by the time of the census which, in most instances, was in April.

 

Some other points to note about the above imaginary return and census pages generally:

 

  • Between 1851 and 2001, a number of alterations and additions were made to the arrangement and headings. This imaginary return does not represent 1861 exactly. It is supposed merely to give an idea of the general appearance of any schedule.
  • The census enumeration districts (e.g. Dumbarton, Old Kilpatrick, Bonhill, etc.) were based on civil parishes. Each district was divided into enumeration books. Each book had anything from just a few pages to as many as sixty or so. Each page could contain about three or four house (and therefore family group) schedules. The above illustration shows one schedule only.
  • You must distinguish the number of the schedule from the street number. The street number, if there is one, is given in the same column as the rest of the address.
  • The letters "do" in place of a surname are short for "ditto".
  • All relationships are supposed to be to the "Head" of the family. The head of the family was regarded as the person in whose name the house was rented or owned - usually, but not always the husband or a widow.
  • "Daur" is short for "daughter", "Lod" for "lodger". Other abbreviations sometimes found include "Vis" for "visitor" and "Rel" for "relation".
  • "Mar" is short for "married" and "Un" for "unmarried". Children under 16 years of age are not normally designated in this way.
  • Age is in full years; those under 1 year old are given as so many months or days old - as in the case of Ann Othername.
  • Place of birth: for those born in Scotland the format was supposed to be County followed by Parish. Variations of this will be found, sometimes more specific, sometimes less. For those born outside Scotland, the country alone was given. Occasionally more specific information is written down by the enumerator, technically against his instructions, but to the benefit of genealogical researchers.

 

 

So what now?

 The census information is obviously of family history interest itself, but as a stepping stone the next thing to do is trace the birth record(s) of one or more of those listed. Subtract the age from the census year, and if the result is on or after 1855, and if the person was born in Scotland, there should be a birth certificate registered at the place of birth. (See Birth Certificates Page). If the birth is before 1855, then you have to search Church records.

 

It is recommended that you now follow this link to the page about Old Parish Registers of Births, in particular to see if the birth of Ivan Othername is recorded there.