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Goal 4: Learn about census records.Vault
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Choices
ALearn about British census records.
- FamilySearch: Get an introduction to England and Wales census records in these articles.
FS—Wiki: English Census
BYU—English Ancestors, Census - Visit the Census Records section of the FamilySearch Wiki article above.
- Learn about United Kingdom census records in the MyHeritage Wiki.
MH Wiki—UK Census Records - Learn more about census records.
FMP—Understanding the Census in England and Wales—62:08 - 2016
FS—England and Wales Census Records—4 pgs. - 2015
- Searching: Get tips for searching census research in these articles.
How to Use Census Records
WDY—How to search the UK census by address
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BResearch your ancestors in the British census and electoral rolls.
- Basics: Learn about researching ancestors in the British census.
TH—Researching Ancestors in the British Census
AAC—Researching Census Records—11:27 - Watch this video to learn about using census records from England and Wales.
FS—England and Wales Census Records—33:11 - 2016 - Tips: Learn more about using census records in the U.K.
AR—Across the Pond: Using UK Censuses—20:21 - 2013
- Here is a case study for using England census records to solve a research problem.
The Census - Records: Explore a variety of free census records on the
UK BMD site. - Download the British Census worksheet from FamilySearch.
- Learn about researching electoral registers in England.
AAC—Researching Electoral Registers—4:58 - Read these research guides for information about electoral registers.
Electoral Registers - 2014
Electoral Registration - Learn about researching absent voters.
Absent Voters - 2015 - * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for census records. Then use the learnings for searches for an ancestor.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for two or more ancestors.
Using Electoral Records
CResearch your ancestors in British censuses by time period.
- 1939 National Register: Learn about the 1939 National Register in Great Britain, taken on the eve of World War II.
FMP—Revisiting the 1939 Register—3:06 - 2016
- Read these articles to learn more about the 1939 Register.
FMP: What Is the 1939 Register?
FMP: 10 tips for searching the 1939 Register like a pro - 2024
- Learn how to get started using the 1939 Register.
FMP: Getting Started with the 1939 Register - Other Census Years: Learn about the 1921 Census of England and Wales.
FMP: The 1921 Census is now online for the very first time - 2021 - Watch these videos for tips on working with the 1921 England and Wales census.
The 1921 England and Wales Census—3:03 - 2022
FMP—What I Learned Using the 1921 Census Every Day for a Year—7:06- 2023
- Learn about the 1911 Census.
1911 Census of England and Wales - Learn about census records from 1851-1901.
1851-1901 Census Returns of England and Wales - Learn about the 1841 census in England and Wales.
1841 Census of England and Wales - Explore pre-1841 census records in the Early British Census Project from BYU.
Census Practice |
Jane Ann Taylor Darling was 9 years old when the 1901 census was taken. She was born in Lesbury, Northumberland. Find Jane on both the 1901 and the 1911 censuses in the QUIKLinks below, and then answer these questions:
- What are Jane's parents names?
- What about Jane's family dynamic in 1901 predicts her living situation in 1911?
- What is Jane's occupation listed as in 1911? Note any other details that could give additional information about Jane.
- In the 1901 census, Jane appears with a middle initial - "Jane A. Darling." Enter her name, her potential birth year, and her birth location. The transcription for her record will show her and her brother, Robert. The record itself shows the rest of the family on the previous page. If you have access to FindMyPast, you can locate the original record. The record lists her father as James Darling, a widower of age 44. It also lists another brother named James of age 14. Both of them worked on a farm.
- When searching the 1911 census, enter Jane's full name. Look for a record with Jane's approximate date of birth and birth location. All necessary information is available in the transcription. View this record to answer the research questions.
- Jane's father's name is James. Jane's mother is not listed on the census (and James is listed as a widower), meaning she must have died before the census was taken.
- Because Jane's mother passed away, and her father and older brothers worked on the farm, it is not as surprising that Jane went to live in another household.
- Jane's occupation in 1911 is listed as a domestic servant.
(Contributed by Kaylee Lynn)
Record Search Practice |
We are looking for more information on Frederick Lee, born around the year 1841. He was listed under Charles and Sarah Lee's household in 1841 living in Leatherhead, Surrey, England on Gravel Hill. Locate Frederick and his family in the 1841-1891 censuses and answer these questions:
- Were Charles and Sarah the parents of Frederick?
- What places other than his birth location could we look for other records for Frederick?
- Who did Frederick marry, and when?
- Did Frederick have any children recorded on the census? If so, who were they?
- Using the QUIKLinks below, access each census. In the search bar, list Frederick's full name, birth year, birth location, living location, and any other information you have.
- When searching the 1871 census, keep in mind that Frederick may have gotten married and changed households. Though his living location would be different, his listed birth location will remain the same. Use all the details from the previous censuses to verify that you are looking at the correct Frederick. His wife's name is listed as Sarah Lee from Wiltshire, England, and the location for the census is in Paddington, London, Middlesex, England.
- In the 1871 Census, Frederick now appears on his own with a wife "Sarah Lee"- new living location: Paddington, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom)
- When searching the 1881 census, keep in mind that there may be spelling variations in Frederick's first and last name. This particular census uses the spelling "Fredk Lea" and "Sarrah A. Lea". If you are struggling to find them, try searching for these spelling variations. .
- Frederick was listed as the grandson of Charles and Sarah.
- After 1861, Frederick appears in Paddington, London, Middlesex, England. We would want to search this area for other records that give more information on Frederick.
- Frederick married a woman named Sarah. The location and exact date is unclear from the census records, but we know they were married between the years 1861 and 1871. Since Frederick appears in a new location in the 1871 census, we would want to check in both his birth and his later location for a marriage record.
- Based on the census record it appears that Sarah and Frederick had no children at that point.
(Contributed by Kaylee Lynn)
QUIKLinks
- FMP: 1921 Census
- FS Census (W=download worksheet): 1911 W | 1901 W | 1891 W | 1881 W | 1871 W | 1861 W | 1851 W | 1841 W
- AC: 1939 Register
- FMP: England & Wales, Electoral Registers 1832-1932
- FMP: UK Electoral Registers & Companies House Directors 2002-2020
- AC: Midlands (Birmingham) Electoral Registers 1832-1955
- FS: Chelsea Pensioner's Records 1760-1913
- FMP: Britain, Directories & Almanacs