Other censuses (1801-1901)

A census of the population of England and Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles has been taken every 10 years since 1801; except in 1941, when the Second World War prevented a census being taken.

1911 is the most recent census available to the public. Details of previous censuses are below:
  • 1801 - taken on 10 March
  • 1811 - taken on 27 May
  • 1821 - taken on 28 May
  • 1831 - taken on 30 May
  • 1841 - taken on 7 June
  • 1851 - taken on 30 March
  • 1861 - taken on 7 April
  • 1871 - taken on 2 April
  • 1881 - taken on 3 April
  • 1891 - taken on 5 April
  • 1901 - taken on 31 March

The value of censuses to the family historian


Each census provides a unique snapshot of our ancestors’ lives, with details of age, occupation, address, and birthplace. As censuses are taken every 10 years you can track your ancestors’ progress through life and discover when they changed job, moved house, got married, or had children. The censuses can also help to trace the births, marriages and deaths of your ancestors in the BMD indexes, and bring to your attention ancestors whom you never knew existed.

Censuses before 1911


Unfortunately, the census returns for 1801-1831 were not preserved in their complete form. However, some areas for these years do survive and can been found in local authority libraries and archives.

The census returns for 1841-1901 remain largely intact (although some pieces do not survive) and are available online from findmypast.co.uk. Prior to 1911, the household schedules were destroyed once the details had been transferred into the enumerators’ summary books, so it is only scans and transcriptions of the summary book pages that are available today.

Where to get the other censuses


To trace surviving 1801-1831 census returns you will need to find a record repository that covers the county or parish you are interested in. The National Archives’ Archon directory (new window) holds contact details for record repositories throughout the UK. After finding the relevant repository you should contact them directly to see if they hold the records you require.

Records from each of the 1841-1901 censuses are available on findmypast.co.uk. Like the 1911 census, you can search the findmypast.co.uk censuses for either a person or an address. Your 1911census.co.uk user name and PayAsYouGo credits can be used on findmypast.co.uk.

Find your ancestors on the findmypast.co.uk 1841-1901 censuses now (new window)