Let’s focus on one type of record you may use in tracing your Scottish ancestors in Scotland. See our earlier post on Land Divisions.
The Scotland census is taken every ten years starting in 1801. There was no census taken in 1941 due to World War II. Due to privacy laws, the latest available census available to the public is 1921 (available latter half of 2022).
Earlier Censuses
The 1801 through 1831 census records are only head counts. After civil registration starts in 1855, the head of household filled out the census forms but could only include those physically present at the time. Some household members may be missed.
The census records are transcript books prepared by the enumerators after collection of household schedules from the head of every dwelling, institution, and vessel. ScotlandsPeople, the ScotlandsPeople Centre and Local Family History Centres all have copies (some require payment). The preliminary pages include a detailed description of the enumeration district.
The original household schedules were destroyed. You can also find census records for Scotland on FamilySearch, Ancestry, FindMyPast (all have indexes).
Not all the census records for all places in Scotland have survived. Check The National Records of Scotland website for what has been lost for a particular census. Some of the ages are rounded down to the nearest five as instructed but other entries give the actual age. Something to consider when trying to place birth year.
Later Censuses
The 1841 census is the earliest to provide details for the whole population. The information contained:
- Head of household
- Name/occupation of each person
- Ages rounded down to the nearest five for anyone over 15 years
- Yes, if the person born in the county
- No, if born elsewhere in Scotland
- E, born in England
- I, born in Ireland
- F, foreign born
- Soldiers and sailors who were ashore were enumerated at their place of residence
The 1911 census contained:
• Address
- Names
- Number of occupants
- Relationship to head of household
- Age
- Marital questions
- Occupation
- Industry
- Birthplace
- Nationality
More information was included for later censuses.
Here are two examples: one for 1841 and one for 1911 (both from the National Records of Scotland website). You can see the differences between the two as more information is on the 1911 census.
As for the pre-1841 census records, enumerators were asked to provide statistics but some kept lists of householders along with other details. Most of the surviving pre-1841 census entries are found in the kirk session records with a few in the Old Parish Registers. More about kirk session and Old Parish Registers in a later blog.
Scotland’s census records are an invaluable resource for tracing your ancestors. Just like US and other countries that took censuses, these will help you trace your ancestors.
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