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. |
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