Family and Local History
[Bill Macafee's Website]

Home

 

 
Census Records

Although the first government-organised census in Ireland was carried out in 1821 and a census was taken every ten years until 1911, the Enumerators’ Returns which contain details of the members of each family for all places in Ireland, only survive for the years 1901 and 1911. Note that the Census of Ireland 1901/1911 now include Census fragments and substitutes,
covering the years 1821-51.

1901/1911 Census I would normally use the"free" online 1901/1911 Census [National Archives, Ireland] as my starting point for moving back into the nineteenth century or forward to the present day. These two censuses provide details on the members of each household in a townland or street at that time as well as details of the houses in which they lived. Even more importantly, they provide a window into the nature of the society and economy within a locality in the early decades of the twentieth century. The census records, when used in conjunction with valuation records, allow us to see exactly where people lived in the early years of the twentieth century. This is demonstrated in the case study Town of Portstewart [1901 & 1911] and, indeed, in most of the case studies of localities and families. See also, this example of an Excel file of Heads of Families in Draperstown District 1901 & 1911.
 

Copyright 2020 W.Macafee.