A census of the population of England and Wales has been taken every ten years since 1801, except for 1941. Until 1841 only the numbers of people in various categories were recorded, not their names and personal details. This was done by the Overseers of the Poor and local clergy.

The 1841 census was the first one in which an attempt was made to record the name, age and occupation of everyone in the country although only approximate ages were shown, rounded down to the nearest 5 for those over 15. From 1851 exact ages were asked for, and two important new columns were added to the form stating ‘Relation to Head of Household’ and ‘Where Born’. A further addition in 1891 was the question about the ‘Number of Rooms occupied if less than five’.

All personal information in the census remains confidential for 100 years.

From 1841, officials called census enumerators were appointed for each District. This was usually an area containing about 200 houses in a town or in the country, one where the enumerator would not have to walk more than 15 miles. Enumerators had to be able to read and add up. They also had to have a certain standing in the community. Teachers, amongst others, were thought to be suitable. Enumerators were always men in the 19th century.

The census has traditionally been taken on a date in March or April. The date when each census was taken was:

Midnight on:

06 June 1841
20 March 1851
07 April 1861
02 April 1871
03 April 1881
05 April 1891
31 March 1901

Before the census day, the enumerator delivered forms to each household on which the designated ‘Head’ entered the details of everyone present on census night. Those who could not read or write sought help from neighbours or the enumerator himself. Institutions such as workhouses, hospitals or prisons were recorded separately on special forms.

The enumerator then had to copy all the information from the forms into his enumerator’s book, adding up the various totals. These books were eventually returned to the Census Office in London and it is these ‘returns’ that are consulted by historians today.

Statistics were also produced after each census, including the years after 1901, and these can be used to chart the growth or decline of local populations.

The original enumerator’s returns for the whole country are kept at the Public Record Office in London but are available on microfilm for the whole of Derbyshire from 1841 to 1901 at Derby Local Studies Library.

Census returns are useful for the family historian or the researcher who wishes to plot the growth of towns and villages or to look at types of industry and occupations.

Union workhouse records show ages and circumstances of inmates and information about physical and mental disability.

The 1881 census is currently on CD-ROM for the whole country. This is indexed by surname, census place and birthplace.

If you wish to consult census returns at Derby Local Studies Library we advise you to book a microfilm reader in advance as these machines are usually in heavy demand.

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