IrishFamilyResearch.co.uk

Essential Resource No. 2

Availility of Census Returns in Ireland

Census Returns are an extremely useful research tool for the Irish Family Researcher. The 1st Full Census in Ireland began in 1821, and was repeated at 10 yearly intervals. Regrettably, the cumulative affects of the Dublin Four Courts Fire and the Pulping Initiative during WWII, has resulted in leaving us with only two complete sets of Census Returns, for 1901 and 1911.

Despite this major drawback, all is not lost. Fragments of earlier Census Returns are available, and general details of what is available is highlighted further on in this Article. Additionally, many Researchers do not realise that by some measure of good fortune, the Introduction of the Old Age Pension Scheme in Ireland in the early 1900s, meant that many of our Ancestors had to obtain copies of the 1841/1851 Census in order to prove that they were of Pensionable Age. Details of these surviving records are available from the National Archives and/or PRONI.

Details included in the Census Returns changed over the years from 1821-1911. Below is a brief note of the type of information available depending on which Return you obtain:

1821 Census Return

The 1821 Census Returns are still available for Parts of Cavan, Fermanagh, Galway, Meath & Offaly and will provide the following information:

Full Name of the Head of Household

Details of everyone present on the Night of the Census, and their relationship to the Head of the Household;

Age and Occupation of all individuals;

Size of Landholding & Size of House (measured in storeys);

1831 Census Return - Fragments for Co. Derry still exist :

As above, but Religion was added to the list of Sections for completion.

1841 Census Return - Available in Full for Killeshandra, Co. Cavan

As above, plus the following new categories were added:

Date of Marriage;

Ability to Read & Write; and

Details of any Absent Family Members and those who had died since the 1831 Census.

1851 Census Return - Fragments for Co. Antrim still exist

As Above - No Change.

1861-91: (Virtually non-existent)

1901 - (Available in Full for all Counties)

By the time we get to 1901 the Following information is available:

Full Name of the Head of Household;

Details of everyone present on the Night of the Census, and their relationship to the Head of the Household;

Age, Gender and Occupation of all individuals;

Marital Status;

County of Birth;

Their Native Tongue (ie. English/Irish/both);

Whether Deaf/Dumb/other incapacity;

Additionally, Details of Property, Number of Rooms and Windows was also given.

1911 - (Available in Full for all Counties)

As for 1901 with one important addition:

All Married women were required to provide details of the number of years they had been married, the number of children born alive, and still alive at the time of the Census. Unfortunately, Widows were not required to complete this section, however, those women who remarried were (often providing details of the lengths of both marriages and numbers of children).

In order to obtain copies of the 1901/1911 Census, you should write in the first instance to the National Archives in Dublin, or, for Northern Ireland, write to PRONI in Belfast (addresses are available on our Links Page). You will need to provide them with at least the Full Name of the Head of Household, and spouse (if known), together with Address (Townland/Parish & County). Please note that there may be a small charge for the photocopying of Census Returns, and there may often be a long wait, as staff at both PRONI and the National Archives are extremely busy.

One further point we would mention is that it is not unusual to find rather large age discrepancies between the 1901 and 1911 Census - some people's ages would increase by more than 15 years but only 10 years had passed ! This is not all uncommon - women, in particular were accustomed to hiding a few years, but the introduction of the Old Age Pension in c. 1906 had a rather amazing effect on our Ancestors' memories. In cases of discrepancies, the 1911 Census should take priority over the less accurate 1901 Census (for age purposes).

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