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Census Returns
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What dates do they cover?
1841-1901
Where can I see them?
The census returns for the whole of England and Wales are available for free at any Sheffield Library via the Ancestry.com website. Census returns for Sheffield 1841–1901 are also available on microform at both the Local Studies Library and Sheffield Archives. In addition Sheffield Archives has microforms for the whole of South Yorkshire (which includes Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham) 1841–1901.
What format are they in?
Via the internet and also on microfilm and microfiche.
Do I need to order them in advance of my visit?
We strongly advise that you book a computer and/or film/fiche reader in advance of your visit, Sheffield Local Studies Library - 0114 273 4753 or email the Local Studies Library at localstudies.library@sheffield.gov.uk, and Sheffield Archives 0114 203 9395 or email Sheffield Archives at archives@sheffield.gov.uk
Can I get copies?
Yes, we can normally supply copies for private study purposes, subject to the usual copyright regulations. Please email us at archives@sheffield.gov.uk for further information.
Further information
In England, Scotland and Wales a census has been taken every ten years since 1801 (except in 1941). However, it was only in 1841 that the names of individual were included; the previous censuses (1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831) were nothing more than headcounts and are of limited use to the family historian. The original census returns for these years have rarely survived.
Censuses were taken on the following dates:
1801 10 March
1811 27 May
1821 28 May
1831 29 May
1841 6 June
1851 30 March
1861 7 April
1871 2 April
1881 3 April
1891 5 April
1901 31 March
The 1841 census was completed by an enumerator, but from 1851 the census forms were distributed to households. The censuses were compiled using the same system of registration districts that were used for the registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales, each registrar’s sub-district being sub divided into a number of enumeration districts.
Although the 1841 Census was the first to ask for detailed information, the information recorded differs from that recorded on later censuses. The following information was recorded in 1841 about each person: forename and surname, age (rounded down to the nearest five years for those aged 15 or over), sex, occupation, whether they were born in the county in which they were living or whether they were born in Scotland [S], Ireland [I] or Foreign Parts [F]. An address was included for each household but house numbers were rarely provided, in rural areas often only the name of the village would be provided.
Details on census forms from 1851 include: address, forename, middle names (often initials) and surname, age, relation to head, marital status, occupation and county and parish of birth.
Individual schedules would have been distributed to householders and collected the morning after the night the census was taken. The schedules were then sorted and copied into enumerators’ books. The original schedules were subsequently destroyed.
Census returns are not available until 100 years have passed; hence the 1901 census is the latest one available.
All of the census returns are available to view on the Internet. Searching the index is free, though images of the original returns are available on a pay per view basis. Further details are available on the National Archives website.
An index to the 1881 Census for the British Isles (including the Channel Islands) is also available online via the website of the Latter Day Saints and there are no charges for using this site. A copy of the index and transcript for the whole of Yorkshire is available at Sheffield Archives and for Yorkshire and Derbyshire at the Local Studies Library.
Unless a surname index has been compiled, an address must be known in order to access the census returns. The value of electoral rolls, street directories and certificates of birth, marriage and death can clearly be seen.
Please note that the inclusion of any website or link on this page does not mean that they have been vetted or recommended by Sheffield City Council. It is important to make sure that you are happy that they are suitable for your own requirements.
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