Search the 1841 Census for England & Wales on Familyrelatives.com

Census records are an invaluable resource for anyone researching their family history or tracing their family tree.  They provide a wonderful snapshot at a particular moment in time.

Census returns are helpful in that they furnish us with information about our ancestors. As each succeeding Census was taken they provide even further information about individuals, their families and neighbours as well as the environment, thereby expanding our knowledge of our ancestors and the lives they lived.

The first census took place in 1801 and every 10 years thereafter with the exception of 1941 when as a result of the Second World War it was omitted. However the 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 Censuses gathered limited information and sadly very little if any of this information now survives. Today the Law prohibits the disclosure of any information or viewing of the records by the Public for 10 years.

The 1841 Census for England & Wales is widely regarded as the first modern Census and was taken on June 6, 1841. It was the responsibility of the Registrar General of England and Wales to carry it out.

The responses were to reflect each individual's status for all those who spent the night in the house as well as those who were travelling or lodging on that night.

The 1841 Census for England & Wales was taken on June 6, 1841 and the following information was requested:

• Surname of head of household
• Age
• Gender/Sex
• Occupation, Profession or rank.
• Where Born
• Name of street, road, avenue, vessel, etc.
• House name or number

 The Census is for England & Wales, Channel Island and Isle of Man.

• Address - Unfortunately not always accurate and therefore you may have to settle for information such as the Road name or Street name.
• Name - Last name and a first name, sometimes you will see a second first name or nick name or initial
• Relationship - How an individual within the same household is related to the head of the household. It provides a good indication of the household structure and relationships within the same house, including children, step children, or children in law as well as lodgers, servants and others.
• Condition - Whether married, widowed, single or divorced. Not available with 1841 Census.
  
• Age - In 1841 it was rounded down to the nearest 5 years i.e. 38 became 35. From the 1851 Census onwards it is relatively accurate - depending on the honesty of the person giving the age.
• Occupation - The occupation, profession or rank is helpful in establishing if indeed you have identified the correct person. Not available with 1841 Census.
  
• Where born - the 1841 is simply within the County or Scotland, Ireland or Foreign parts. Thereafter it progressively became more informative and in many cases could give a Town and County or if abroad the Country of Origin.
• Greyed out fields are not available with this census as they were not included in original census. eg. Occupation, Marriage Condition, Ward, Parliamentary Borough, Town or Village, Ecclesiastical Parish, Relationship to head of household, Urban & Rural District