Genealogy Chat

Hello. I have heard of the cencus but I'm not quite sure what info it gives and what is the most up to date and also how I would even use it or get hold of it. Please help. Thanx.

Rebecca, The 1881 census is FREE and you can look at it on www.familysearch.org, the Morman web site, or you could ask some kind person on the Records Board for an 1851/61/71/91/1901 to do a search for you. The 1901 is the latest. You put in the name of the person you are searching for and the approx date of birth and where born, and it should give you the answer and list who was living in the household on the night of the census. What years are you researching at the moment? Margaret

The 1871, 1891 and 1901 Censuses are available on Ancestry (not all are complete though). Many members of this site are also members of Ancestry and will do look-ups for others. If you look at the Records Office message boards, you will see the threads. They can only search by name, not address.

Rebecca, you would have filled in a census in 2001 as there is one taken every ten years (though they are not released for 100 years). The information on them varies, with the earliest ones being the least helpful (from 1801 to 1831 they were simple headcounts). Where you can find them depends very much on which counties you are interested in. As someone mentioned, check out the 1881 census free online and that will give you an idea. BUT remember that they were taken in March/April - so the age or year of birth given could be a year out unless your rellie was born in the first three months of the year.