Census returns

The first census was held in 1801 and was taken every ten years thereafter, except 1941 when it was not taken because of the Second World War. The first census to contain names of all individuals, plus their ages rounded down to a multiple of five for those over fifteen (ages for those under fifteen were recorded exactly), occupations and whether born in that county, in Scotland, Ireland or in Foreign parts was taken on 6 June 1841. The 1851 and later censuses included the relationship of individuals to the head of the household, whether married or unmarried, exact ages, and place of birth.

Census returns are available from 1841 to 1901 for England and Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. County Record Offices and local studies libraries have copies of returns for their own areas, as do the Latter-Day Saints Family History Centres. Some censuses are now available online, including the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses. You can search indexes and access digital images, using a pay per view service.

The 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses can also be searched on this website.

Scottish census returns from 1841 to 1901 can be consulted online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk