Civil Censuses of the Population
Government censuses of the population are particularly valuable because they list nearly all the population at a given time. The Irish government took a census in 1813, then every ten years from 1821 through 1911. Due to the Irish Civil War of 1921-22, another census was not taken until 1926. The next census was taken in 1936.
Only parts of the early censuses survive. The censuses from 1821 through 1851 were mostly destroyed in the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office in Dublin during the irish Civil War. The censuses from 1861 through 1891 were destroyed by the government sometime after statistics had been compiled from them.
The 1901 census is the first complete census available for Ireland. The 1901 and 1911 censuses are available to the public, but all censuses taken since 1911 are not.
The 1901 and 1911 censuses are divided by county, electoral division, and townland.
You will find the following information in the various censuses:
For the purpose of genealogical research the two available census reports are those of 1901 & 1911.
The barony, civil parish and townland were the territorial divisions used. Once you have located the area in which your ancestors lived it is then a matter of pinpointing the records that have survived for that particular area.
1901 census
On 31 March 1901, a census was taken of the whole island of Ireland. The census records:
names;
relationship to the head of the household;
religion;
literacy;
occupation;
age;
marital status;
county of birth;
ability to speak English or Irish.
1911 census
The 1911 census was taken on 1 April of that year and includes, in addition to the information in the 1901 census, the number of years a wife had been married, the number of children born and the number still living.
Only parts of the early censuses survive. The censuses from 1821 through 1851 were mostly destroyed in the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office in Dublin during the irish Civil War. The censuses from 1861 through 1891 were destroyed by the government sometime after statistics had been compiled from them.
The 1901 census is the first complete census available for Ireland. The 1901 and 1911 censuses are available to the public, but all censuses taken since 1911 are not.
The 1901 and 1911 censuses are divided by county, electoral division, and townland.
You will find the following information in the various censuses:
- 1901. The 1901 census lists—for every member of the household—name, age, sex, relationship to the head of the household, religion, occupation, marital status, county of birth (except for foreign births, which give country only), whether the individual spoke Irish, and whether the individual could read or write.
- 1911. The 1911 census lists the same information as the 1901 census and adds for married women the number of years she had been married to her current husband, the number of children that had been born to them, and the number of their children who were still alive in April 1911.
For the purpose of genealogical research the two available census reports are those of 1901 & 1911.
The barony, civil parish and townland were the territorial divisions used. Once you have located the area in which your ancestors lived it is then a matter of pinpointing the records that have survived for that particular area.
1901 census
On 31 March 1901, a census was taken of the whole island of Ireland. The census records:
names;
relationship to the head of the household;
religion;
literacy;
occupation;
age;
marital status;
county of birth;
ability to speak English or Irish.
1911 census
The 1911 census was taken on 1 April of that year and includes, in addition to the information in the 1901 census, the number of years a wife had been married, the number of children born and the number still living.