Ireland Census, 1851 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Ireland

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from the Ireland 1851 Census. The majority of the census returns were destroyed in 1922 but there are a few returns that remain for County Antrim. The census returns contains: name, age, occupation, relationship to the head of household, date of marriage, education/literacy, absent family members, family members who died since 1841 and other information. 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. This collection was originally captured at the National Archives of Ireland and the index was created by findmypast.com.

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

Census records


 * Given Name of all Family Members
 * Ages of Family Members
 * 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

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person you are looking for
 * The approximate location of residence

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select County
 * 2) Select Parish
 * 3) Select Townland to view the images.

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?

 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date
 * Use the name of the head of household and spouse to find a marriage record
 * Try to find the family or individuals in other census records
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community

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

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * 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
 * Check for variant spellings of the names
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Ireland.
 * Ireland Guided Research
 * 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.


 * Collection Citation:“Ireland Census, 1851.” Database with Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. From “Ireland Censuses 1821-1851.” Database. findmypast. http://www.findmypast.com : 2014. Citing Public Record Office, London.

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