----- Original Message ----- From: Mary George To: IRL-MAYO-L@ROOTSWEB.COM Cc: MAYO-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 10:53 PM Subject: Irish census statistics Here are some interesting statistics from census of 1841 1861 1871 for England and Scotland regarding Irish immigrants. The population of Ireland rose from over 4 million in 1781 to over 8 million in 1841. By the end of 19th century, the population had decreased to approx 50% of 1851 levels. Long before the famine years of the late 1840's Irish men and women emigrated to England and south Wales, and to a lesser extent to Scotland, in search of work. There were often seen as seasonal harvesters in rural areas. They formed a significant proportion of those who constructed railways and canals. Emigration increased rapidly after 1801. 1841 census lists 289,404 Irish born residents in England and Wales, and Scotland had 126,321. This does not include any of their children who were not born in Ireland. 1861 census lists 601, 634 Irish born residents in England and Wales, in Scotland, 218,745. Again, these do not include the children born to those immigrants. The favourite destinations were London, Liverpool and other Lancashire towns, and parts of Lowland Scotland. By 1851, many Lancashire towns had large numbers of Irish e.g. 22% of Liverpool population, 13% of Manchester population. Ulster families tended to head further north. About 1000 immigrants a week arrive in Glasgow Scotland in 1848. Because of the low population in Scotland, the proportion of Irish immigrants was higher, although 3 times as many went to England. In 1851, 7.9 % of the whole population of Scotland was Irish, and 2.9 % of whole population in England was Irish. In each case, there were concentrations in particular areas. For example, 18% of the population of Dundee was Irish. In 1871 82% of Irish immigrants were labourers. There was another wave of immigration to England during the farming depression in late 1870's and 80's. During 1950's and 1960's there was another wave of immigration to United Kingdom, with an estimate of 750,000 Irish born immigrants living there in 1969. This time, the main concentrations in England were London (especially Kilburn) Bristol and Birmingham. By 1870, the Irish formed about one third of the foreign-born population of the USA. No wonder we all have such difficulty finding them. Mary G