England and Wales Census, 1851 - FamilySearch Historical Records

England

Wales

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records for 1851. The United Kingdom Census of 1851 recorded the people residing in every household on the night of Sunday, March 30, 1851, and was the second of the UK censuses to include details of household members. However, this census added considerably to the fields recorded in the earlier 1841 UK Census, providing additional details of ages, relationships and origins, making the 1851 census a rich source of information.

The schedules are arranged by county and then divided by civil parish, each district being an area that could be enumerated in a day. For reference purposes, the National Archives assigned a piece number to each enumeration district and stamped a folio number in the upper right corner of each right-side page. The number refers to entries on both sides of the page. The original schedules are well preserved and housed at the Public Records Office in Kew.

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. This collection is available at the Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers, and to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These images may be viewable to users who have contributed to the FamilySearch Indexing effort. Learn how to be a part of FamilySearch indexing here. The images are also available to all viewers for a fee at Findmypast. For additional information about image restrictions, please see the Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections page.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information be be found in these records:

Census
 * Date, place, district, parish and county where census was taken
 * Given names and surnames for members in each household
 * Age, gender and birthplace for each household member
 * Marital status and occupation for each household member
 * Relationship to the head of the household for each household member

Collection Content
Sample of an indexed record

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person you are looking for
 * Approximate place of residence

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Look at an image of the original record. The original may contain information that was not recorded in the index
 * Use the information to find additional family members in other censuses
 * Use the information to find other records such as birth, marriage, christening, and death records
 * Birth places can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Check for other names. They might have been listed under a middle name, a nickname, or an abbreviation of their given name
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try searching based on how the name may have been pronounced

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in England. The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Wales.
 * England Guided Research
 * England Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Wales Guided Research
 * Wales Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?
Return to England Census Page