Date sent: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 21:12:11 -0700 From: "Barbara Lewis" <lewisb@webpipe.net> To: DUNBARTONSHIRE-GENWEB-L@rootsweb.com Subject: About Scottish Census records... > In case you haven't read this info from the Scotland Research > Outline...there are some interesting items here: > Understanding the Census > > "The Scottish government has taken a census every ten years since 1801 > except in 1941. The censuses from 1841 to 1891 are available for public use. *** WRONG. It was the British government. There was no Scottish government between 1707 and 1999.*** > > You will find the following information in censuses: > > > 1801 to 1831. These censuses contain only statistical information. However, > some parishes compiled lists of names when they gathered the information > needed for the census. ** Wrong. It was not parishes who dealt with the census. It was a national organisation, but in Scotland the local enumeration was placed in the hands of the local schoolmaster. The instructions were for statistics only, but some schoolmasters, in order to be certain that had not missed anyone, compiled private copies showing the names (or in same cases the head of the household), and a few have survived in local authority orr church archives.*** > 1841. The 1841 census was taken on 7 June 1841. It lists each member of > every household with their name, sex, address, occupation, and whether or > not they were born in the county. > The census takers usually rounded the ages of those over fifteen down to a > multiple of five years. For example, someone who was actually fifty-nine > would be listed as fifty-five. ** The rounding down of ages of adults was one of the rules stipulated by the organisers. We get the accurate ages where the enumerator forgot the rules!** <snip> > Searching Census Records > When searching any census records, remember: > > Information may be incorrect. > > Accept the ages with caution. > > Given names may not be the same as the names recorded in church or vital > records. *** Especially note that middle names may be omitted in the census, or reduced to an initial.*** > > Names may be spelled as they sound. > > Place-names may be misspelled. > > If the family is not at the expected address, search the surrounding area. > > When you find your family in one census, search the earlier or later census > records to find additional family members. > > Individuals missing from a family may be listed elsewhere in the census. > > There could be more than one family in the same locality by the same name > with very similar information. Check the census thoroughly. > > There could be surname or street indexes for the locality which can shorten > the search. > > > A woman, especially a widow, might be listed under her maiden name. > > Census Indexes > Since more indexes to the Scottish census are becoming available, it is > always wise to see whether a surname index or a street index exists before > you search the actual census. > > The following source lists some surname and street indexes: > > Gibson, Jeremy, ed. Marriage, Census and Other Indexes for Family > Historians. 6th ed. Birmingham: Federation of Family History Societies, > 1996. (FHL book Ref 942 D22m 1996.) **** It is out of date. Instead, get hold of: Scottish Census Indexes 1841-1871 - a location list, compiled by P. Ruthven- Murray and published by the Scottish Association of FHS, price 2 pounds plus p & p.**** <snip> > 1881 Surname Indexes. The entire 1881 Scottish census has been indexed. Each > county has: > Indexes by surname, birthplace, and census place. ** THis is out of date. The UK 1881 census is now on 25 cd-roms for £29.75 inclusive from the LDS, so you can search that in a number of ways - much more useful. Just note that Sutherland appears in it as Sunderland, England! ** Gordon Johnson (Author of "Census Records for Scottish Families at home and abroad", 3rd. edn. Aberdeen FHS,1996.) Hon.Press Officer for Aberdeen & North East Scotland Family History Society <http://www.rsc.co.uk/anesfhs/> Postal address: 164 King St., Aberdeen AB24 5BD, Scotland.