Pre-1841 censuses .....

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:39 pm

I was grazing in the National Library of Scotland this morning and came across some information regarding surviving pre-1841 censuses, and where to find them. The book was Scottish Population History, edited by Michael Flinn, Cambridge University Press 1977. I believe a few more of these older censuses have surfaced since that 1977 publication.

Below is the list according to Scottish Population History

Annan, Dumfries-shire
1801, 1811 and 1821 - in Annan Library

Dunnottar, Kincardineshire
1811 and 1821 - NAS CH2/110/12

Gordon, Berwickshire
1801, 1811 and 1821 - NAS CH2/457/2

Jedburgh, Roxburghshire
1831 - NAS CH2/552/44

Ladykirk and other Berwickshire parishes
1811, 1831 - NAS CH2/660/4, 5

Lochrutton, Kirkcudbrightshire
1821 and 1831 - in parish

Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire
1821 - Paisley Public Library

Melrose, Roxburghshire
1831 - NAS CH2/386/19

Moulin, Perthshire
1821 - NAS CH2/488/20

Ormiston, East Lothian (Haddington)
1811, 1821, 1831 - NAS CH2/292/24

Stow, Midlothian (Edinburgh)
1801 - NAS GD113/465-7

Stromness, Orkney
1821 - in private hands (see below)

One update to the above list is shown on the Orkney Family History Society's website where they are offering census transcription books of 1821 Deerness, Orphir, St Andrews, Sandwick, South Ronaldsay & Burray and Stromness for sale. I presume the "in private hands" (see listing above) Stromness census is the one that is now transcribed and available for sale. The census enumeration books are also available to view in the Archive Room of Orkney Library in Kirkwall.

I have no idea how complete or not these census books are.

The majority of them are in NAS, mostly amongst the Established Church records (CH2), so I hope they are now digitally imaged (and indexed? - or am I being over-hopeful?) for viewing in NAS, with the long-term (no date known yet) intention of them being available online.

Has anyone viewed any of these censuses and can verify what is there and in what condition?

Does anyone know of any more to add to the list?

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:04 pm

Additionally, I see Tay Valley Family History Society is selling transcriptions of some more early censuses:

Airlie, Angus (Forfar) - 1811, 1821
Dalkeith, Midlothian (Edinburgh) - 1811, 1821 (and 1831 communion roll)
Irvine, Ayrshire - 1820 (?)
Galston, Ayrshire - 1821, 1831
St Quivox, Ayrshire - 1821
Abdie, Fife - 1821
Orkney - 1821 (presumably a combination of the parishes listed in the post above)

So presumably the enumeration books are somewhere out there.

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:56 pm

Hi Andrew,
Those sound very interesting! Do the older censuses list the names of the people in each household, or just how many males and females, etc. ?
Regards,
Sarah

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:19 pm

SarahND wrote:Those sound very interesting! Do the older censuses list the names of the people in each household, or just how many males and females, etc. ?

Hi Sarah,

Good question. That is what I would like to find out. I saw the Orkney ones in Kirkwall Library Archive Room five years ago. I wish I had paid more attention then. I think they were complete naming all members of the households.

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **emanday** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:27 pm

AndrewP wrote:Additionally, I see Tay Valley Family History Society is selling transcriptions of some more early censuses:

I've had a look on their site and their are a few books on offer on the Ayshire area I'd certainly be very interested in looking at.

Isabel H · Post by **Isabel H** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:35 pm

The Moulin 1821 census has been transcribed by North Perthshire Family History Group and copies can be purchased. It lists all family members with their relationship to the head of family, and some occupations.

Regards
Isabel

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:53 pm

A cuationary note before everyone rushes off to see these pre-1841 censuses, - the infomation in the formal census was just the name of the Head of Household, and numbers and sexes of the others in the household.

OK, it may be the case that the enumerator recorded more information than that bare necessity, so that if the surviving material is such enumerators' fuller records, then it could indeed be of great use, but don't have too high expectations

David