Difference between revisions of "Census Search"

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[[Category:Starting Out]]
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[[Category:Census Search]]
 
==The Census==
 
==The Census==
<div align="right"> [[Image:census.jpg|250px|thumb|© Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk]]
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<div align="right"> [[Image:census2.jpg|250px|thumb|© Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk]]
 
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The census is one of the most useful sets of records available. Placing an ancestor with their parents and siblings when they are young, or finding them in later life with a spouse and children are just a few of the things that can be discovered.
 
The census is one of the most useful sets of records available. Placing an ancestor with their parents and siblings when they are young, or finding them in later life with a spouse and children are just a few of the things that can be discovered.
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The census can be the most effective way of following an ancestor who moved across the country (perhaps due to work for example). The place of birth is recorded on census returns but is lacking on many other documents. Many mariners and soldiers would simply be impossible to find easily without census returns, due to the transient nature of their employment.
 
The census can be the most effective way of following an ancestor who moved across the country (perhaps due to work for example). The place of birth is recorded on census returns but is lacking on many other documents. Many mariners and soldiers would simply be impossible to find easily without census returns, due to the transient nature of their employment.
  
Searching the census may appear easy to do, but often an ancestor can be difficult to locate for several reasons. Mostly the problem is due to a mistranscribed name, or errors which can occur in the original documents or when the index is compiled. It is best to view the image whenever possible to verify what has been recorded, as the index and image may have conflicting details.
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Searching the census may appear easy to do, but often an ancestor can be difficult to locate for several reasons. Mostly the problem is due to a mis-transcribed name, or errors which can occur in the original documents or when the index is compiled. It is best to view the image whenever possible to verify what has been recorded, as the index and image may have conflicting details.
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'''Census Dates'''
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*1911 ref always start RG14 - census date 2nd/3rd April
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*1901 ref always start RG13 - census date 31st March
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*1891 ref always start RG12 - census date 5th April
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*1881 ref always start RG11 - census date 3rd April
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*1871 ref always start RG10 - census date 2nd April
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*1861 ref always start RG9 - census date 7th April
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*1851 ref always start HO107 - census date 30th March
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*1841 ref always start HO107 - census date 6th June
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*(note: 1841 piece numbers 1-1465; 1851 piece numbers 1466-2531)
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By following the illustrated techniques below, you can see how to locate your ancestors in the census and follow some proven methods to help find those missing census images.
 
By following the illustrated techniques below, you can see how to locate your ancestors in the census and follow some proven methods to help find those missing census images.
 
  
  
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<br><br>
  
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==The Illustrated Guide to Census Returns==
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<br>
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*[[Finding Martha]]<br>
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*[[Searching the 1881 census on the LDS]] <br>
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*[[Searching a census on Ancestry]] <br>
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*[[Refine your search]] <br>
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*[[The surname may have been written differently]] <br>
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*[[Missing family in 1861]] <br>
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*[[Finding images from a particular parish]] <br>
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*[[Census address search]]<br>
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'''If you still can't find those missing families, you may find these Wiki pages useful:'''
  
There is a very useful tutorial on reading old handwriting and what you will find on a census return here:
 
  
[http://www.british-genealogy.com/resources/census/writing.html Techniques to Read Difficult Writing in a Census ]
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*[[Missing_your_relatives_in_1881%3F|Missing your relatives in 1881?]]<br>
  
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*[[Missing_Census_Pages|Missing districts in 1861]]<br>
==The Illustrated Guide to Census Returns==
 
  
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
*[[Finding Martha]]<br><br>
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==Useful Resources and Websites ==
  
*[[Searching the 1881 census on the LDS]] Page to come <br><br>
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*[http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Your_Archives:Historical_Streets_Project Your Archives:Historical Streets Project] Street indexes to the censuses of England and Wales.
  
*[[Searching a census on ScotlandsPeople]] Page to come<br><br>
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* For a very useful tutorial on reading old handwriting and what you will find on a census return: [http://www.british-genealogy.com/resources/census/writing.html Techniques for Reading Difficult Writing in a Census]
  
*[[Searching a census on Ancestry]] <br><br>
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*When you have tracked down your ancestors in the Canada 1881, British 1881 or US 1880 Census you might like to enter them on the [http://www.lostcousins.com/ Lost Cousins] website. Just enter your ancestors  - then click the Search button!
  
*[[Refine your search]] <br><br>
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*[[Latter Day Saints Family History Libraries|A Guide to the LDS ]]  
  
*[[The surname may have been written differently]] <br><br>
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*[http://www.census1891.com/occupations-all.php Victorian Occupations 1891]
  
*[[Missing family in 1861]] <br><br>
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*[http://www.mit.edu/~dfm/genealogy/census-chart.html British Census Indexes, Transcripts, and Images Available Online or on CD]
  
*[[Finding images from a particular parish]] <br><br>
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*[http://hds.essex.ac.uk/history/data/cebs.asp?print=1 The Census Enumerators' Books]
  
*[[Census address search]]<br><br>
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*[https://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/introduction-to-the-census/ An Introduction to Census Searching]
<br><br>
 
  
==Useful Links==
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<br>
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Back to [[Creating Your Family Tree]]
  
*[http://www.mit.edu/~dfm/genealogy/census-chart.html British Census Indexes, Transcripts, and Images Available Online or on CD] <br><br>
 
<br><br>
 
 
Back to [[Main Page]]
 
Back to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 08:40, 25 September 2022

The Census

© Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

The census is one of the most useful sets of records available. Placing an ancestor with their parents and siblings when they are young, or finding them in later life with a spouse and children are just a few of the things that can be discovered.

The census can be the most effective way of following an ancestor who moved across the country (perhaps due to work for example). The place of birth is recorded on census returns but is lacking on many other documents. Many mariners and soldiers would simply be impossible to find easily without census returns, due to the transient nature of their employment.

Searching the census may appear easy to do, but often an ancestor can be difficult to locate for several reasons. Mostly the problem is due to a mis-transcribed name, or errors which can occur in the original documents or when the index is compiled. It is best to view the image whenever possible to verify what has been recorded, as the index and image may have conflicting details.


Census Dates

  • 1911 ref always start RG14 - census date 2nd/3rd April
  • 1901 ref always start RG13 - census date 31st March
  • 1891 ref always start RG12 - census date 5th April
  • 1881 ref always start RG11 - census date 3rd April
  • 1871 ref always start RG10 - census date 2nd April
  • 1861 ref always start RG9 - census date 7th April
  • 1851 ref always start HO107 - census date 30th March
  • 1841 ref always start HO107 - census date 6th June
  • (note: 1841 piece numbers 1-1465; 1851 piece numbers 1466-2531)


By following the illustrated techniques below, you can see how to locate your ancestors in the census and follow some proven methods to help find those missing census images.


Have a look at the Records Office Guide for more information about the census records.

The Illustrated Guide to Census Returns



If you still can't find those missing families, you may find these Wiki pages useful:



Useful Resources and Websites

  • When you have tracked down your ancestors in the Canada 1881, British 1881 or US 1880 Census you might like to enter them on the Lost Cousins website. Just enter your ancestors - then click the Search button!


Back to Creating Your Family Tree

Back to Main Page