Australia, New South Wales, Census (fragment), 1841 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
These records include images and indexes for the 1841 census householder's returns from New South Wales. Original records are located in the Mitchell Library in Sydney.

To protect individual privacy, all national censuses were destroyed after statistical information was collected. The New South Wales 1841 census was one of the few census records that had survived the destruction.

Australian states have also taken censuses—mostly from the nineteenth century on. However, many of the censuses do not survive because they were taken primarily for population studies and taxation.

Record Content
Census records may contain the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Age
 * Occupation
 * Religion
 * Marital status
 * Birthplace
 * County
 * Sub-district

How to Use the Record
This section provides information on how to search the collection and some tips on how to find records.

To search this collection, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Approximate year and place of residence

Search the Collection
To search by index: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

To browse by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the "Census Place" category (or the district name) which takes you to the images

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.
 * If their religion is listed, you can use that information to search for church records in the area.
 * Use the age to calculate a birth date.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

Related Websites

 * NSW Government State Records, Index to 1841 Census
 * National Archives of Australia, Step-by-step Guide for Researchers
 * The Census in Australia
 * State Library - Births, Deaths and Marriages

Related Wiki Articles

 * Australia Census
 * New South Wales, Australia
 * Australia Genealogy

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

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