Census

In the UK, the Census has been carried out every 10 years since 1801.

After 1841, they contained more detail, including the names of everyone in each household.

Dates

The census had to be completed on the night of a given date.

These were:

• 6th/7th June 1841
• 31st March 1851
• 7th/8th April 1861
• 3rd April 1871
• 4th April 1881
• 6th April 1891
• 1st April 1901
• 2nd April 1911
• 19th June 1921

The copies of the census returns held by the Public Record Office are identified by a number of the form

RG n / 1234

the number n represents the year that the census was taken, and will be one of

 7 ==> 1841
 8 ==> 1851
 9 ==> 1861
10 ==> 1871
11 ==> 1881
12 ==> 1891
13 ==> 1901

Details

After 1841, they contained more detail, including the names of everyone in each household. The entries were arranged by address, household by household.

• 1841 / RG7

  6th/7th June 1841

  • Location
  • Names of each person who abode therein the preceding night
  • Age (rounded to the nearest 5 y
  • Sex
  • Profession, Trade, Employment or of Independent Means
  • Whether Born in same County / Whether Born in Scotland, Ireland  or Foreign Parts

• 1851 / RG8

  31st March 1851

• 1861 / RG9

  7th/8th April 1861

  • Road / Street
  • Name of each Person
  • Relation to the Head of the Household
  • Conditions (married, unmarried, widow) 
  • Age (male / female) 
  • Rank, Profession or Occupation
  • Where Born
  • Whether Blind or Deaf-and-Dumb

• 1871 / RG10

  3rd April 1871

  • Road / Street
  • Name of each Person
  • Relation to the Head of the Household
  • Conditions (married, unmarried, widow) 
  • Age (male / female) 
  • Rank, Profession or Occupation
  • Where Born
  • Whether Deaf-and-Dumb / Blind / Imbecile or Idiot / Lunatic

• 1881 / RG11

  4th April 1881

  • Road / Street
  • Name and Surname of each Person
  • Relation to the Head of the Household
  • Conditions (married, unmarried, widow) 
  • Age last Birthday (male / female) 
  • Rank, Profession or Occupation
  • Where Born
  • Whether Deaf-and-Dumb / Blind / Imbecile or Idiot / Lunatic

• 1891 / RG12

  6th April 1891

  • Road, Street & Name / Number of House
  • Houses: Inhabited or Uninhabited
  • Number of Occupants
  • Name & Surname
  • Relation to Head of Family
  • Marital Status
  • Profession or Occupation
  • Employer
  • Employed
  • Number of Employees
  • Where Born
  • Deaf-and-Dumb / Blind / Lunatic, Imbecile or Idiot

• 1901 / RG13

  1st April 1901

  • Road, Street & Name / Number of House
  • Houses: Inhabited / IN Occupation / Not in Occupation / Building
  • Number of Occupants
  • Name & Surname of each Person
  • Relation to Head of Family
  • Marital Status
  • Age Last Birthday: Males / Females
  • Profession or Occupation
  • Employer, Worker or Own Account
  • If Working at Home
  • Where Born
  • Deaf-and-Dumb / Blind / Lunatic, Imbecile / Feeble-minded

• 1911

  2nd April 1911

  From 1911, there was one document per household

  • Name & Surname
  • Relationship to Head of Family
  • Age (last birthday) & Sex
  • Particulars as to Marriage
  • Profession of Occupation of persons aged 10 years and upwards
    • Personal Occupation
    • Industry or Service with which worker is connected
    • Whether Employer, Worker or Working on Own Account
    • Whether Working at Home

  • Birthplace of every person
  • Nationality of every person born in a Foreign Country
  • Infirmity

• 1921

  19th June 1921

  • Name & Surname
  • Relationship to Head of Family
  • Age
  • Years
  • Months

• Marriage or Orphanhood
• Birthplace and Nationality
• Occupation and Employment
• Personal Occupation
• Employment
• Place of Work