Censuses are population level records, usually created by a state, to count people in that country and collect statistics in different categories to help inform government policy and planning.
In Ireland, there are two types of census records which are useful for genealogical research:
This page focuses on the state censuses. The statistical reports for all Irish censuses from 1821-1911 (being the period before partition) are accessible, but these do not contain names or household compositions.
Nineteenth century censuses in Ireland
The first attempted census in Ireland took place in 1813, but it was poorly conducted and the paperwork was destroyed.[1]
From 1821-1891, Ireland conducted a decennial census (every 10 years) as part of the wider United Kingdom census (of which Ireland was then a part). Forms were completed by households unless they were illiterate, in which case a census enumerator (often a policeman from the Royal Irish Constabulary) recorded their dictated answers. The content of these censuses varied slightly from year to year, but unfortunately, only fragments remain of all 19th century censuses for the island. The first four censuses were destroyed when a huge fire burned the Public Records Office, housed in the Four Courts, in Dublin, on 30th June 1922.[2] 700 years of records were lost. Some fragments for these censuses remain and can be searched at the Irish National Archives census site. The surviving areas are detailed below.
The censuses of 1861 and 1871 were destroyed by civil servants after the statistical work had been completed in 1877. The censuses of 1881 and 1891 were inadvertently lost when a government order to pulp household returns for paper during World War I was extended to Ireland, without the understanding that they were destroying the only copies. In England and Wales, household returns completed by families and individuals were copied into Enumerator Books, so they had two copies. To save money, they had never created Enumerator Books for the Irish censuses.
Therefore, the censuses of 1901 and 1911 are first complete extant censuses of Ireland. They have been fully digitised and transcribed, though there were some accidental omissions.
It was intended to conduct a census in 1921 and the forms were even drawn up, but political events took over, and Ireland was engaged in a War of Independence from Britain during this time. Following this war, the island was partitioned, and two new jurisdictions were created. Northern Ireland (encompassing six counties: Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone) remained part of the United Kingdom. The rest of the country became known as the Irish Free State (and subsequently, the Republic of Ireland from 1949[1]). Both jurisdictions held a census in 1926.
Northern Ireland (1922 - present)
Censuses were conducted in 1926, 1937, 1951, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021.[2]
There is some confusion over the status of the Northern Ireland 1926 census but it appears to have been lost[3], apart from the statistical reports. All of these censuses are subject to a 100 year seal, so have not yet been released to the public.
Irish Free State/Republic of Ireland (1922 - present)
Censuses were conducted in 1926, 1936, 1946, and the every 5 years until 1976, which was cancelled as a cost-saving measure. This led to a mini-census in 1979. 5 yearly censuses resumed in 1981, until 2001, when the census was postponed due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (in cattle)[3]. 21st century censuses were conducted in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2022, the last having been postponed from the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Censuses in the Republic of Ireland are also subject to a 100 year seal, so none have yet been released. However, the 1926 census is scheduled for release in April 2026 and will be made available as a fully digitised and transcribed record set at that time.[4]
Fragment survival by census & content
Census of 1821
This census was taken on 27th May 1821. Names of people in a household, their age, occupation and relationship to the head of the house were recorded. Returns for limited areas of Antrim, Carlow, Cavan, Fermanagh, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Mayo, Meath and Offaly (then known as King's County) survive.
Census of 1831
This census was officially taken on 6th June 1831, though historians are aware that households were visited over a much longer period. Names of people, their age, occupation, religion and relationship to the head of the house were recorded. Returns survive for Antrim and Derry.
Census of 1841
This census was taken on 6th June 1841. Names of people, their age, gender, occupation, literacy level, place of birth, marital status, date of marriage (where relevant) and relationship to the head of the house, grouped by household, were recorded. Another section of the form detailed members of the household absent that evening, and those who had died since the previous census. Limited original returns survived for Antrim, Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Fermanagh, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Queen's County (modern-day Laois), Tyrone, Westmeath and Wicklow.
Census of 1851
This census was taken on 30th March 1851. It was the first census since the Great Famine. Names of people, their age, gender, occupation, literacy level, place of birth, marital status, date of marriage (where relevant) and relationship to the head of the house, grouped by household, were recorded. Another section of the form detailed members of the household absent that evening, and those who had died since the previous census. This last section is particularly poignant in light of the Famine. Limited original returns survive for Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Kerry, Kildare, Leitrim, Limerick, Londonderry, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Queen's, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. A extracted record of heads of households for Dublin city, created during the statistical research period, also survives. This just contains names, addresses and the civil parish.
Following the introduction of the Old Age Pension Act (1908), applicants were required to prove that they were aged 70 or older. One method of proving this was to request a search of the 1841 and 1851 census records, having provided information relevant for the household. These census search forms survive and are searchable on the National Archives website for Republic of Ireland counties.
Census of 1861
No original returns survive. A transcription of Roman Catholic families from Enniscorthy parish in Co. Wexford was added to the parish records but it is not indexed.
Census of 1871
No original returns survive. A transcription of Drumcondra and Loughbracken parish in Co. Meath also survives in the Roman Catholic parish register. It has been transcribed in a searchable format by the Irish Genealogical Research Society.
Census of 1881
No original returns survive.
Census of 1891
No original returns survive.
Twentieth century censuses
Census of 1901
It was taken on 31st March 1901. Form A was used for households and collected the following information by household. Names of people, their age, gender, occupation, literacy level, place of birth, marital status, date of marriage (where relevant) and relationship to the head of the house were recorded. This census has been digitised and transcribed and is considered complete, though there are some accident omissions to the online content. It is available on a variety of platforms including MyHeritage.
Other types of buildings which housed people were also recorded, though they are still only searchable by names. Public institutions such as workhouses and prisons recorded individuals by initials only, which can make it more challenging to identify someone in those settings. A list of the other types of return available. Some of the language used on these headings is considered inappropriate today but is reproduced below for historical accuracy:
- Form B1: House and Building Return
- Form B2: Return of Out Offices and Farm-steadings
- Form B3: Shipping return
- Form C: Return of the sick at their own homes
- Form D: Return of lunatics and idiots not in institutions.
- Form E: Workhouse return
- Form F: Hospital return
- Form G: College and Boarding-School return.
- Form H: Barrack return
- Form I: Return of Idiots and Lunatics in institutions
- Form K: Prison return
- Form N: Enumerator's Abstract
Census of 1911
The most recently available census for Ireland, which was taken on 2nd April. It was very similar in content to the previous census with an important additional section on fertility, which was to be answered by married women only, though in reality, many widows and men also completed these questions. Married women were asked how many years they were married to their current husband, how many children had been born in that marriage and how many children were still living. These questions allow for the finding of additional children who were by then deceased or living elsewhere. It did not differentiate between minor children or adult children. This census also used the same form numbers to categorise different types of housing. This census has been digitised and transcribed and is considered complete, though there are some accident omissions to the online content. It is available on a variety of platforms including MyHeritage.
Census of 1926
This census will be released to the public in April 1926 via the National Archives of Ireland's website.
See also
Explore more about census records in Ireland
- 1901 Ireland Census collection catalog at MyHeritage
- 1911 Ireland Census collection catalog at MyHeritage
- The 1851 Dublin City Census, Ireland collection catalog at MyHeritage
- 1766 Ireland Religious Census collection catalog at MyHeritage
- 1901 Dublin City Census, Rotunda Ward collection catalog at MyHeritage
References
- ↑ Article 4 of the Constitution of Ireland declares that the name of the state is Ireland; Section 2 of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 declares that Republic of Ireland is "the description of the State"
- ↑ 2001 and earlier censuses. NISRA
- ↑ Census lost: Historic 1926 NI records may be destroyed. BBC
- ↑ Digitisation of the 1926 Census. Gov.ie