Libraries and leisure

Introduction to census returns

In 1800 the Census Act was passed, leading to the first census of population being taken in 1801. A census has been taken every ten years since then (with the exception of 1941 due to the war). Each census is a ‘snapshot’ of the population on a particular day, and gives details of everyone living in a household on that day - details such as name, age, sex, occupation, relationships, and where they originated.

Statistical summaries for each parish in England and Wales have survived for all years since 1801 but the enumerators’ returns for 1801 - 1831, with a few rare exceptions, have not. This means that holdings of the returns normally start in 1841. The General Register Office (now the Office for National Statistics) retains the records until they are due for public release (after 100 years) and then passes them to the Public Record Office to be made available on microfilm or fiche. This means that the latest census currently available to view is 1901.

The 1911 census may be released in 2009 in response to Freedom of Information requests although "personally sensistive" information will not be available until 3 January 2012. This may include "details of infirmity or other health-related information, information about family relationships which would usually have been kept secret". At the moment, it is possible to request details of people at an address through the National Archives for a fee.