England and Wales Census, 1861 - FamilySearch Historical Records

 England

 Wales

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes information from the 1861 census for England, Wales, Isle of Man and Channel Islands showing population as of 7 April 1861. This data has been provided by Findmypast.com. The information gathered by the census taker is only as reliable as the person who provided the information. While some information may not be completely accurate, it can still provide important clues in locating an ancestor.

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.

These images can be viewed online by members of the supporting organization(s), at a Family History Center near you, or the Family History Library. They are also viewable to users who are part of FindMyPast, or who have contributed to the FamilySearch Indexing effort. Learn how to be a part of FamilySearch Indexing here.

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 records will include the following:
 * Address
 * Name
 * Relationship to the head of the household
 * Marital status
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Occupation
 * Where born
 * Registration district

Collection Content
Sample of an indexed record:

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How Do I Search This Collection?
If you do not know what registration district you need, find your location in: UK BMD Registration Districts In England and Wales. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate location 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 ages listed to determine an approximate birth date and 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 in an area search
 * 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
 * Consult the England Record Finder to find other records

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

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. "England and Wales Census, 1861." Database and images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 29 September 2016. From "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census." Database and images. findmypast. http://www.findmypast.com : n.d. Citing PRO RG 9. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
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