Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone,
I was given to understand that census records were released every 100 years. Is this correct and if so when is this likely to be this year/
Doreen

The 1911 pay to view is already up and running online and is slowly arriving on Ancestry
or you can ask for a look up on TTF
censusses are only taken every 10 years. So it's a long wait for the next

Doreen,

As you are probably already aware the census in the UK has been taken every 10 years since 1841. The exception being 1941 when no census was taken because of WW2. The records for the 1931 census were unfortunately destroyed by fire.

You are correct that each census to date has been given a 100 year closure rule but the 1911 census of England and Wales was released 2 years early (Scotland has not yet been released). I think that this was so because of the Freedom of Information act.

The 1911 census for England and Wales can be viewed on 3 sites currently:

www.FindmyPast.co.uk ) requires subscription
www.Genesreunited.co.uk ) requires subscription at Platinum level
www.1911.co.uk Can be searched for free but payment required to view the transcription or actual image.

The 1911 census for all of Ireland (32 counties) can be viewed free at www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

Please see the thread called
census information for England & Wales inc 1911
just below here :-)

The UK census has been taken every 10 years since the first one was taken in 1801, the only exception being 1941.

The dates when the census was taken are shown in the following table - in general the details recorded should have been of people present at each dwelling at midnight at the end of this day, although in later years the rules were clarified to include those, such as night shift workers, who returned to the dwelling the following morning, having not been counted elsewhere.

1801 Census Tuesday 10th March 1801
1811 Census Monday 27th May 1811
1821 Census Monday 28th May 1821
1831 Census Sunday 29th May 1831
1841 Census Sunday 6th June 1841
1851 Census Sunday 30th March 1851
1861 Census Sunday 7th April 1861
1871 Census Sunday 2nd April 1871
1881 Census Sunday 3rd April 1881
1891 Census Sunday 5th April 1891
1901 Census Sunday 31st March 1901
1911 Census Sunday 2nd April 1911
1921 Census Sunday 19th June 1921
1931 Census Sunday 26th April 1931
1941 Census -- see note below --
1951 Census Sunday 8th April 1951
1961 Census Sunday 23rd April 1961
1971 Census Sunday 25th April 1971
1981 Census Sunday 5th April 1981
1991 Census Sunday 21st April 1991
2001 Census Sunday 29th April 2001
2011 Census to be held Sunday 27th March 2011 (Download a copy of the 2011 Census Form)
2021 Census -- probably cancelled --


No census was held in 1941 because of the second world war but a "mini-census" was held in 1939 so that everybody could be issued with a National identity card. This was held on Friday 29th September 1939.

My husband is going to be abroad on 27th March. Does that mean he won't be able to be named on the census?

In the site that I gave:
http://2011.census.gov.uk/My-census/Frequently-asked-questions#11
What will happen if I'm not at home on 27 March 2011?
You should complete your questionnaire as soon as possible after 27 March 2011. Or do it before you go away if you've already received your questionnaire.

If everyone in the household is away on census day you should complete your questionnaire as soon as possible after your return. If the household is absent for more than six months after census day, you do not need to complete the questionnaire.

Anyone away from home for up to 12 months should still be included on your questionnaire.

Thanks everyone - will have to be patient - thought it might have been this year!!!
Doreen

Thankyou Joy.

IGP - I think Doreen was referring to the 1911 census.

The next census to be released is for 1921:-

Accessing the 1921 Census .... when will the 1921 Census be released?

The ruling by the Information Commissioner that resulted in the 1911 census being opened early does not apply to the 1921 census because, unlike the 1911 census, the 1921 census was conducted under the 1920 Census Act, which is still in force and which contains a statutory prohibition on disclosure.

The stated government position from the ONS is "its intention to release the entirety of the 1921 census returns in 2022, in accordance with the non-statutory '100 year rule' which was adopted to reflect this undertaking of confidentiality".

The 1911 Scottish census is due this year. Is it March/April?

SRS...........as soon after March 27th as poss!

Jonesey + Ann - when you say the UK census has been taken every 10 y since 1841 excepting 1941, I presume you're referring to the United Kingdom of Great England & Northern England. There was no UK census in 1921-1941. There was no census in Ireland in 1921. A census in both Irelands was taken 18/4/1926. There was a census in NI in 1937, then they got back in synch with the rest of the UK in 1951.

FYI: Although not part of the UK since 15/1/1922, Irish census years are 1926, 1936, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1979 (the census due in 1976 was cancelled as an economy measure), 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2002 and 2006. The 1926 Census Returns will be released to public inspection in January 2027.

Incidentally, I don't think the 1911 census for England/Wales has been fully released yet - isn't the disabilities column still blacked out?

To add to my query re my husband being away on 27th March, I'm relieved to know that he can be included on the census. I do not wish researchers in 100 years' time to be wondering if he had 'gone off with someone younger and prettier' than me in 2011. I am trying to ascertain this sort of info about his gt. grandfather, who apparently 'did a runner', left his wife and family and disappeared off the face of the earth in the 1890s!

Hi all,
Ann said earlier that the census started in 1801. Where would we find out details of these.
Would anything be held at the various records offices.
thanks

Most census books 1801-1831 don't name most householders nor their families, but some do. They're mostly found in the county records office when they exist.

There's potential for confusion here by the loose use of the term "United Kingdom". For the avoidance of doubt a census was taken in 1931 in England and Wales but the records were subsequently destroyed by a fire. The records for the 1931 Scottish census are quite safe and will be released at the appropriate time.