Census Returns

The census is an official count or survey of a population.   Almost every country in the world regularly carries out a census to collect important information about the social and economic situation of the people living in its various regions.  Censuses, which are in general expensive, extremely labour intensive and time consuming, are taken only at infrequent but usually regular intervals; generally every ten years.

1821

 This census was organised by townland, civil parish, barony and county and took place on 28 May 1821.  Almost all the original returns were destroyed in 1922, with only a few volumes surviving for Co. Fermanagh (MIC 5A and MIC 15A), Cavan, Galway, Meath and King’s County (Offaly).  For Monaghan, 1821, see Thrift Abstracts, National Archives, Dublin, also Clogher Record, 1991. 

For Cavan census returns survive for the parishes of Annageliffe, Ballymacue, Castlerahan, Castleterra, Crosserlough, Denn, Drumlumman, Drung, Kilbride, Kilmore, Kinawley, Larah, Lavery, Lurgan, Mullagh, Munterconnaght, National Archives.  SLC 597154 – 158. 

 1831-34

Once again this census was organised by townland, civil parish, barony and county.  It also includes the name, age, occupation and religion of the occupants.  Very little of this census survives, with most of the remaining fragments relating to Co Londonderry; PRONI reference:

 Barony of Coleraine                         MIC 5A/6

City of Londonderry                          MIC 5A/6 to 7

Barony of Loughlinsholin                    MIC 5A/8

Barony of Tirkeeran                           MIC 5A/9 

1841

The government census, taken on 6 June 1841, followed the same general pattern as that of 1831, however, the returns were compiled by the householders themselves rather than government enumerators.  Unfortunately, very little has survived.  Some abstracts exist for County Monaghan, Thrift Abstracts, National Archives.  For Cavan, returns survive for part of the parish of Killeshandra.  Also, some certified copies of census returns for use in old age pensions, National Archives. 

 1851

The comments above on transcripts of the 1841 census also apply to 1851.  Taken on 30 March 1851, this government census added a column for religious affiliation.  Most of the surviving returns relate to Co Antrim MIC 5A/11-26.  There are also individual census returns for various parts of Northern Ireland in MIC/15A.  Some extracts survive for County Monaghan, Thrift Abstracts, National Archives. 

 Abstracts from the 1841 and 1851 censuses are also available on a CD-ROM, Irish Source Records, published by Broderbund.   

1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891

The census records for 1861 to 1891 were destroyed by order of the government during the First World War.   

1901

On 31 March 1901, a census was taken of the whole island of Ireland.  The original returns are deposited at the National Archives; microfilm copies of the returns for Northern Ireland are available at PRONI. Every town, village and townland for Ireland is represented and those inhabitants who were at home on 31 March 1901 are listed. 

 A catalogue of the original census returns is held at the NAI on the open shelves in the Reading Room.  Each country is listed in a separate volume.  The records are numerically arranged by District Electoral Division (DED) and held in bound volumes.  Before consulting the 1901 census returns, you must establish in which DED the relevant townland or street is situated.  The DED was based on the subdivision of the old Poor Law Union and was used for electoral purposes.  The DED, with a number attached, can be found in the 1901 Townland Index which is available on the shelves of the Search Room.  Simply look up the relevant townland, village or town and you will find it listed along with the barony and Poor Law Union.

Within each DED the townlands are arranged alphabetically and numerically.  In order to request the returns for a particular townland you must include the name of the country, the number of the DED and the number of the townland.  The returns for 1901 are bound into large volumes.  

The 1901 census is available on microfilm at PRONI under reference MIC/354.  Once again it is necessary to find out the relevant DED.  This can be done by consulting the 1901 Townland Index, which is available on the shelves of the Public Search Room.  Each DED is listed in a series of calendars which will give you the appropriate reel number. 

1911

The 1911 census was taken on 1 April of that year and contains, while including the same information as the 1901 census, also includes additional information such as the number of years a wife was married, the number of children born and the number still living.  This census is not yet available at PRONI because of the more restrictive UK ‘hundred year closure rule’ on access, but microfilms of the original census returns can be viewed at the NAI.  

In order to locate the relevant DED number, the townland, town or street number it is necessary to consult the 1911 Census Catalogue, available on the open shelves.  Sometimes this number corresponds with the number used in 1901, but in many cases it does not.  The number used in 1911 is usually close to the 1901 number.  If the 1911 DED number cannot be found, help should be sought from the Search Room staff in the NAI.  

It is important to realise that there were boundary changes in townlands and DEDs between 1901 and 1911; an official Parliamentary Paper listing these changes was published.  Unlike the 1901 census returns, which are held in large bound volumes, those for 1911 are unbound and stored in folders within boxes.  Both censuses are arranged by Poor Law Union, DED, county, barony, parish, townland, and street if in a town or city.