Census returns
Background
A census of population has taken place in England, Scotland and Wales every ten years since 1801 (except 1941). They provide a regular snapshot of a town or village. Detailed census returns are available from 1841 to 1901 only. Detailed census information is not released for 100 years.
What are they?
Census returns are lists of all the people - men, women and children - living in a house (whether resident, boarding or visiting) on the day the census was taken. Information given includes name, age, occupation and (after 1841) place of birth. You may find that your ancestors were not always truthful about their age and may not age 10 years between each Census.
Pages are arranged by:
- street name
- schedule number (the order in which the enumerator visited properties)
- enumeration district.
Each grouping of houses is given a piece number which is clearly marked on each page of the census. Each group of two pages is given a folio number which is stamped on the top right hand corner of every other page. The Nottinghamshire Family History Society (NFHS) has produced surname indexes covering the whole county for each of the available censuses (1841 - 1901). These indexes can be used to trace:
- the piece number for a town or village in the county
- a street in Nottingham and other large towns
- a surname in each piece number in Nottinghamshire.
Each index contains an explanation of how it can be used to obtain information from the Census.
If you are unable to visit either Nottinghamshire Archives of one of our libraries, the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 census records are also available online. The National Archives website contains more information and relevant links, but be aware that this is a charged service.
