Ireland Census Search Forms, 1841 and 1851 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection will include Irish Census Search forms images from 1841-1851. The government used these forms to search the 1841 & 1851 Census to prove the age of people applying for the Old Age Pension when birth certificates did not exist because the person was born before Civil Registration had begun. This collection was originally captured at the National Archives of Ireland and the index was created by FindMyPast.com.

The majority of the census returns were destroyed in 1922 but there are a few returns that remain for a few counties. The census is arranged by town land, civil parish, barony and county and contains: name, age, and locality information. A barony, in Scotland, Ireland and outlying parts of England, constitutes an administrative division of a country, usually of lower rank and importance than a county.

Record Content
Census Records may contain the following Information:


 * Given Name of all Family Members
 * Parent’s Names
 * Ages of Family Members
 * Head of Household
 * Relationship to the Head of the Household
 * Marital Status and Date
 * Educational or Literacy Status
 * Occupation of Head of Household
 * County and Township of Residence
 * Country of Origin
 * Religious Affiliation
 * Family Members who died since the previous Census.

Search the Collection
To search 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 'County' category 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.

When searching:

As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships. 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.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community.

Related Websites

 * National Archives of Ireland


 * Ireland Vital Records

Related Wiki Articles

 * Ireland Census
 * Ireland Church Records
 * Ireland Civil Registration
 * Ireland Census Fragments
 * Ireland Probate Records
 * Ireland

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found it. This will help you or others to find the same record again.

Also, keep track of records where you did not find information about your ancestor so you and others will not waste time looking through these records in the future.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.