Census Returns

Census Returns in Ireland

Although census enumerations were carried out every decade in Ireland from 1821, the earliest surviving complete return for all Ireland is that of 1901. The first four census enumerations, i.e. 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851, were largely destroyed by fire in the Public Record Office at the Four Courts, Dublin in June 1922; and those for 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 were destroyed by order of government.

Any surviving fragments from the censuses of 1821 to 1851 are held in the National Archives of Ireland (www.nationalarchives.ie) with microfilm copies in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.proni.gov.uk).

In Ireland the census enumerations of 1901 and 1911 are open to the public. These returns were arranged by townland in rural areas and by street in urban areas.

The 1901 census records for each member of the household their name, age, religion, education, occupation, marital status and county or city of birth, or country (if born outside Ireland). The 1911 census also provides additional information on the marriage; namely the number of years married, the number of children born and the number still living.

The 1901 and 1911 census returns should be examined once you have established where your ancestor lived at the turn of the 20th century.

The National Archives of Ireland (www.nationalarchives.ie) holds the manuscript returns of the 1901 and 1911 censuses for all counties of Ireland. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.proni.gov.uk) holds microfilm copy of the 1901 census returns for the 6 counties of Northern Ireland.

You can now search the 1901 and 1911 census returns for all counties in Ireland by name and place, and view, at no charge, an image of the original household census form for any named individual at www.census.nationalarchives.ie.