What’s on the census?

From 1841 personal information was collected on individuals. Over time, more information was collected. Slightly different information was collected in the censuses for England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Find out what personal information was collected in the census of:

1841 Census

  • First, or Christian, name
  • Surname
  • Age*
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Place of birth**
  • If disabled, nature of disability

* For those under 15, ages were given exactly (if known): for people over 15, ages were rounded down to the nearest five years. For example, someone of 64 would appear as 60, another of 29 as 25.

** Some information relating to the place of birth was also given, but was restricted to whether or not a person was born in the county of residence (Y for Yes, N for No), and, if not, whether in Scotland (S), Ireland (I), or foreign parts(F).

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1851 Census

  • First, or Christian, name
  • Surname
  • Relationship to the head of the household
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Place of birth
  • If disabled, nature of disability

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1861 Census

  • First, or Christian, name
  • Surname
  • Relationship to the head of the household
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Place of birth
  • If disabled, nature of disability

In Scotland this additional information was collected:

  • number of rooms with 1 or more windows

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1871 Census

  • First, or Christian, name
  • Surname
  • Relationship to the head of the household
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Place of birth
  • If disabled, nature of disability

In Scotland this additional information was collected:

  • number of rooms with 1 or more windows

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1881 Census

  • First, or Christian, name
  • Surname
  • Relationship to the head of the household
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Place of birth
  • If disabled, nature of disability

In Scotland this additional information was collected:

  • number of rooms with 1 or more windows

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1891 Census

  • First, or Christian, name
  • Surname
  • Relationship to the head of the household
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Place of birth
  • If disabled, nature of disability

In Scotland this additional information was collected:

  • whether Gaelic or Gaelic and English speaker
  • number of rooms with 1 or more windows

In Wales this additional information was collected:

  • whether language spoken is Welsh, English or both

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1901 Census

  • First, or Christian, name
  • Surname
  • Relationship to the head of the household
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Place of birth
  • If disabled, nature of disability

In Scotland this additional information was collected:

  • whether Gaelic or Gaelic and English speaker
  • number of rooms with 1 or more windows

In Wales this additional information was collected:

  • whether language spoken is Welsh, English or both

In Ireland, households were asked for additional information:

  • Religious denomination
  • Literacy level
  • Ability to speak or write Irish

There was a separate form filled out by the enumerator which recorded for women: the number of years the marriage has lasted, the number of children born in the marriage and the number surviving.

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