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Census Data
Genealogists never die, they just lose their census.

Onsite Links

Substitutes Subsidy Roll 1663 Griffiths 1663 Flax Growers List Vaccination Records Land Owners 1851 IOM 1851 Wales 1851 Canada 1851 Channel Is. 1851 England 1901 census 1911 Census

Census of Down
Full government censuses were taken of the whole island in 1821, 1831, 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 1901, and 1911. The first four, for 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851, were largely destroyed in 1922, in the fire at the Public Record Office; surviving fragments are detailed under the county source-lists. Those for 1861, 1871, 1881, and 1891 were completely destroyed earlier, by order of the government.  This means that the earliest surviving comprehensive returns are for 1901 and 1911 and the original returns can be consulted in the National Archives of Ireland.

If anyone has any census transcriptions tucked away in their notes please send them to me at mourneminers@optonline.net and I will add them to the site so that others might benefit from them.   They don’t have to be complete – you might just have noted down your own family – but it may be enough information to point others in the right direction.


Definition Of Terms Used On Census Returns
Annuitant ~ The term annuitant could describe someone on an annual allowance as well as someone receiving annual income from an investment. Often however, it was also used for institutionalized pensioners.
Boarder ~ a person who shares the dinner table with the family.
Lodger ~ a person who has separate accommodation to the householder.
Lunatic ~ a mentally ill person with periods of lucidity.
Imbecile ~ persons who have fallen in later life into a state of chronic dementia.
Idiot ~ persons who suffer from congenital mental deficiency.
Scholar ~ from 1861 onwards a child was described as a scholar if he/she was over 5 and receiving daily schooling or regular tuition at home. There was no definition of the latter. In 1871 the census officials in London broke the confidentiality pledge and divulged the names of all children 3-13 and their parents (with addresses) to the London School Board to help enforce compulsory education.
Dressmaker ~ the occupation of 'dressmaker' was commonly given by prostitutes.
In-Law ~ terms such as Brother and Brother-in-Law were used interchangeably and somewhat unreliably. Likewise Sister and Sister-in-Law.

©2006/2007/2008  Fiona Jones