Genealogy Chat

Can anyone tell me why the age entered on the census would vary slightly (1 or 2 years) from the date of birth on other documents? Paul

Perhaps the census has been incorrectly transcribed at some point. I transcribe census records myself and it can be very hard reading the writing or sometimes the person who originally wrote the record you are transcribing has made an error. Its not impossible that this could be why, but I would give a note of caution in that generally the age is the easiest bit to read!! Lindsey

Paul, quite often people simply didn't know how old they, or other members of the family, actually were !! I have a relly who's age on the 1881 and 1891 census implied he was born in 1808, couldn't find him... found him on the 1851 census and his age was different, implied he was born 1812, looked again and low and behold there he was ! I have loads who's age fluctuates... it's very annoying but just something you have to accept...

Yes I have had too - on one census husband was 4 years older by census 20 years later they were same age and the son had only aged 15 years!!!!!

Paul, In most cases the age will be 1 year out because the age listed is the age at the census time (around the end of March). Anyone born April-December would appear to be a year younger than they actually were. Crista

Thank you all for that, was beginning to think I was going mad

Dear Paul I had awful trouble trying to find birth certificates of my granddparents as I took their age from the 1901 census - there were four years older than dates stated. Janice

Thanks Janice, that was the main problem I had. 1901 Census just seemed to have random ages!!!