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Census of 1901: England and Wales

Higgs & Schürer (2013)

The 1901 census, held on 31 March/1 April of that year under the provisions of the 1900 Census (Great Britain) Act (63&64 Vict., c.4), was the eleventh decennial census of England and Wales, and marked the centenary of census-taking in Britain. It was also the first census to be organized and reported on in England and Wales by two new Registrar Generals, Sir Reginald McLeod (1900-02), and Sir William Cospatrick Dunbar (1902-09). One might assume, therefore, that this census would have been a rather limited, or timid, affair. However, this was not the case, and a number of key departures were made in the nature of the information collected and the manner of publishing the results. This underlines perhaps the lack of ambition in the London GRO in the late nineteenth century, when the form of the census stagnated, and is associated with a general expansion of the GRO's activities in the early twentieth century.[1]

In England and Wales in 1901 householders were to supply similar information as in the previous census for each individual in their households: name, relationship to head of family, marital status, age, sex, occupation, birthplace, and medical disabilities. The latter now related to the lunatic, imbeciles and the 'feeble-minded'(see documents below). As before, institutions and ships arriving in British ports within a set period were given their own schedules. As usual, household schedules in Welsh were produced but the enumerators' books were always in English. Moreover, the question introduced in 1891 on employment status was repeated, with a change in the expected response from crossing a box to inserting either 'employer', 'worker', or 'own account' in a separate column. However, there seems to have been little appetite to actually analyze this data. The question on the number of rooms occupied if under five was also repeated, as was the issuing of a special schedule with a column headed 'Language Spoken' in Wales and Monmouthshire. However, another column was also added to the schedule in which householders were to indicate if people were 'working at home'. This appears to have been at the behest of the Home Office, which was considering legislation to regulate the 'sweated trades'.[2]

The information sought about birthplace for each person was also more extensive, which was to be in the following form:

1. If in England and Wales, the County and Town, or Parish.

2. If in Scotland or Ireland, the name of the County.

3. If in a British Colony or Dependency, the name of the Colony or Dependency.

4. If in a Foreign Country, the name of the Country, and whether the person be a 'British Subject', a 'Naturalised British Subject', or a 'Foreign Subject' specifying nationality such as 'French', 'German', &c.

The questions asked in the Islands in the British Seas were similar apart from the production of a special schedule for the Isle of Man in which householders were to indicate for those five years old and above if they spoke Manx only, English or both languages.[3]

However, the greatest change was in the manner in which the data from the census were published. Rather than publishing tables for the whole of England and Wales together in a single volume, there were now 53 separate volumes, giving information on the housing, population and its characteristics for each county. In this respect counties in England and Wales were now being treated in a similar manner to the Islands in the British Seas (the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) that had a separate volume to themselves in pervious censuses. The publication of county volumes was to become a standard feature of subsequent twentieth-century censuses.

The publication history of the 1901 Census Reports (see references below) was as follows: in 1901 a Preliminary Report and Tables was published, showing the population and houses in various districts - parishes, boroughs, sanitary divisions, registration districts, and so on - in England and Wales, and in the Islands in the British Seas. This was followed in 1902 and 1903 by the county volumes. Also in 1903 the London GRO published a set of summary tables for areas, houses, populations and their characteristics already published in the county parts. These were a preliminary form of the summary tables that were to appear the following year in the General Report which was published in 1904, and was a much more substantial document than that published for the 1891 census. The 1901 Report began with a potted history of census-taking in Britain over the previous century, and then proceeded to discuss the areas, housing and populations of various districts. The latter were discussed in terms of their sex, ages, marital conditions, occupations, birthplaces, physical infirmities, and, in Wales and Monmouthshire, the language spoken. A summary was then provided for the whole of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland), and for the British Empire. The main text was followed by two appendices. The first, Appendix A, contained summary tables, while the second, Appendix B contained the census Act, copies of the schedules, and a three page memorandum giving guidance to enumerators about the specific details of occupations required for better quality results (e.g. hat binder, book binder, shoe binder, etc.). Finally, in 1904, the GRO published an index volume giving the name of parishes, townships, and so on, and the pages of the separate county volumes on which they appeared. This volume provides a reasonably rapid reference tool for finding the population of a place in 1901.

Census of 1901: Scotland

As already noted, the 1901 Scottish census, taken on 31 March/1 April 1901 under the provisions of the 1900 Census (Great Britain) Act (63&64 Vict., c.4), was again organized by Sir Stair Agnew. It was in very similar in most respects to that in England and Wales, although as usual the definition of the house, the question relating to rooms in houses, and occupational classification system used in the published reports, were slightly different to those in England and Wales. The special question respecting language spoken was the same as in 1891 with householders asked to, 'Write "Gaelic" opposite the name of each person who speaks Gaelic only, and "G and E" opposite the name of each person who speaks both Gaelic and English' (see documents below).

Where the Scottish census differed markedly from that in England and Wales was in the form of its published output (see references below). Whereas the London GRO produced large numbers of county volumes for England and Wales, the Scots kept to the simpler pattern of former years. In 1901 a short Preliminary Report appeared giving the population, numbers of families, houses, and of rooms with windows, nationally and in defined administrative units. This was followed in 1902 by a General Report describing the taking and form of the census, and giving more information on population, emigration, medical disabilities, family and house size, and so on. The same year also saw the publication of a volume comparing some of the data in 1901 with that in 1891. 1903 then saw the publication of two volumes, the first covering ages, marital conditions, education and birthplaces, and the second, occupations.

1901 Census Publications: England and Wales; Scotland; Islands in the British Seas

Census of England and Wales, 1901, Preliminary report and tables of the population and houses enumerated in England and Wales, and in the islands in the British seas, on 1st April 1901. BPP 1901 XC 1- [Cd. 616].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, Summary tables. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXIV 1- [Cd. 1523].

Census of England and Wales,1901, Index to the population tables for England and Wales in the county volumes of the census report, 1901. BPP 1904 CVIII 335- [Cd. 1826].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, General report with appendices. BPP 1904 CVIII 1- [Cd. 2174].

Census of England and Wales. 1901, County of London. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 1- [Cd. 875].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Lancaster. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXIX 389 - [Cd. 1002].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of York. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 639 - [Cd. 1107].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Stafford. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 1 - [Cd. 1125].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Durham. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 673 - [Cd. 1147].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Essex. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 769 - [Cd. 1148].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Kent. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXIX 279 - [Cd. 1171].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Warwick. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 389 - [Cd. 1175].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Middlesex. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 195 - [Cd. 1211].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Glamorgan. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 869 - [Cd. 1212].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Chester. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 143 - [Cd. 1213].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Hants (Southampton). Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXIX 95 - [Cd. 1270].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Devon. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 487 - [Cd. 1271].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Surrey. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 207 - [Cd. 1272].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Gloucester. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXIX 1 - [Cd. 1289].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Sussex. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 287 - [Cd. 1290].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Nottingham. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 347 - [Cd. 1292].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Worcester. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 553 - [Cd. 1293].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Northumberland. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 613 - [Cd. 1294].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Derby. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 399 - [Cd. 1303].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Lincoln. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXIX 689 - [Cd. 1304].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Norfolk. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 425 - [Cd. 1305].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Dorset. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 601 - [Cd. 1320].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Oxford. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 705 - [Cd. 1322].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Cambridge. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 73 - [Cd. 1323].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Suffolk. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 113 - [Cd. 1345].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Leicester. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXIX 609 - [Cd. 1346].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Somerset. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 775 - [Cd. 1347].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Northampton. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 527 - [Cd. 1359].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Cornwall. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 251 - [Cd. 1360].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Monmouth. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXX 273 - [Cd. 1361].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Berks. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 1 - [Cd. 1362].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Cumberland. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXVIII 331 - [Cd. 1376].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Hertford. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXIX 209 - [Cd. 1377].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Wilts. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1902 CXXI 475 - [Cd. 1378].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Bedford. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXIV 415 - [Cd. 1406].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Buckingham. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 1 - [Cd. 1407].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Carnarvon. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 217 - [Cd. 1410].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Carmarthen. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 165 - [Cd. 1411].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Cardigan. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 115 - [Cd. 1425].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Hereford. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 373 - [Cd. 1426].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Montgomery. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 527 - [Cd. 1435].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Brecknock. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 65 - [Cd. 1437].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Huntingdon. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 433 - [Cd. 1438].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Flint. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXV 329 - [Cd. 1439].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Anglesey. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXIV 371 - [Cd. 1447].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Rutland. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmities. BPP 1903 LXXXVI 45 - [Cd. 1448].

Census of England and Wales, 1901, County of Radnor. Area, houses and population; also population classified by ages, condition as to marriage, occupations, birthplaces, and infirmitie . BPP 1903 LXXXVI 1 - [Cd. 1449].

1901 Census Publications: Scotland

Census of Scotland, 1901, Preliminary report containing tables of the number of the population, of the families, of houses, and of rooms with windows, in Scotland and its islands, on 31st March, 1901. BPP 1901 XC 203- [Cd.644].

Census of Scotland, 1901, Eleventh decennial census of the population of Scotland taken 31st March 1901, with report. Vol. II. BPP 1903 LXXXVI 205- [Cd. 1481].

Census of Scotland, 1901, Eleventh decennial census of the population of Scotland taken 31st March 1901, with report. Vol. III. BPP 1904 CVIII 625- [Cd. 1798].

1901 Census Publications: Islands in the British Seas

Census of England and Wales, 1901, Preliminary report and tables of the population and houses enumerated in England and Wales, and in the islands in the British seas, on 1st April 1901. BPP 1901 XC 1- [Cd. 616].

Census, 1901, Islands in the British seas. Isle of Man. Jersey. Guernsey and adjacent islands. BPP 1903 LXXXIV 313- [Cd. 1473].