Ireland Census Records

All-Ireland census records

The first Ireland census was held in 1821 and the latest Ireland census for which records are publicly accessible is the census of 1911. There was no Ireland census in 1921 and Ireland census records less than 100 years’ old are not available to the public for privacy reasons.

During the period for which Ireland census records are available, the whole of Ireland was part of the UK and shared its census days with Great Britain. However, Ireland censuses were always subject to their own legislation; they were held separately and were unique in many ways from the rest of the UK. As a result, they are well worth studying in isolation from the rest of the UK.

What was destroyed – and what survives

Unfortunately, only fragments remain of 1821 – 1851 Ireland census records. Ireland lost an estimated 2 million people during the Great Famine of 1845 – 1849, so any Ireland census records dating from, or before, this terrible time are highly prized.

For the rest of the 19th Century, it gets even worse; records for the 1861 – 1891 Ireland censuses have been almost totally destroyed.

Ireland census records for 1901 and 1911 are in intact and currently available to view. However, the scheduled Ireland census of 1921 did not take place due to political turmoil and Ireland was partitioned that same year into what would ultimately become Northern Ireland (which remained part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland.

All-Ireland Census Records

Census date	Available?	Prime Minister	Monarch
1821 28 May	Fragments only.	Robert Banks Jenkinson 2nd Earl of Liverpool	George IV
1831 30 May	Fragments only.	Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey	William IV
1841 6 June	Fragments only.	William Lamb 2nd Viscount Melbourne	Victoria
1851 30 Mar	Fragments only.	Lord John Russell 1st Earl Russell	Victoria
1861 7 April	Destroyed after census.	Henry John Temple 3rd Viscount Palmerston	Victoria
1871 2 April	Destroyed after census .	William Ewart Gladstone	Victoria
1881 3 April	Pulped during WW1	William Ewart Gladstone	Victoria
1891 5 April	Pulped during WW1	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 3rd Marquess of Salisbury	Victoria
1901 31 Mar	✓	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 3rd Marquess of Salisbury	Edward VII
1911 2 April	✓	Herbert Henry Asquith	George V

Background

Prior to the union of Great Britain and Ireland, there had been various attempts at conducting a census of Ireland, although these censuses were narrow in scope and did not cover the whole population. One of these pre-Union censuses was the 1672 ‘Territorial Survey of Ireland’ by Sir William Petty for the distribution of forfeited property. It estimated a population of around 1.1 million and was still being referenced in disputed property cases over two centuries later. The remaining censuses during this period were mainly created from hearth tax returns.

The first census in Ireland to fully represent at least a portion of Ireland was the Rev James Whitelaw’s 1798 Census of Dublin. Counter intuitively, this benefited from the United Irishmen Rebellion that same year because, as a security precaution, householders were required to list all their occupants on notices attached to their front door; a gift for census takers.

Ireland entered into a full political union with Great Britain on 1 January 1801, too late to participate in the first census of Great Britain in 1801 (the legislation for which had passed the day before). Likewise, the 1811 census of Great Britain missed out Ireland (the Census Act 1810 only provided for a British census). An 1813 census of Ireland, modelled on the 1811 census of Great Britain, was attempted but abandoned two years’ later.

All-Ireland Census records 1821 – 1831

The 1821 census of Ireland, the first full Ireland census, arrived 20 years later than the first census of Great Britain. However, it was far more comprehensive. It followed roughly the same format as that of Great Britain (enumerators recording information provided verbally by householders) but was unique in collecting the personal information of each Irish resident. In contrast, every pre-1841 census of Great Britain was a head count only.

The 1831 Ireland census was much less successful, but still managed to collect the names of the householders.

All-Ireland census records 1841 – 1851

Major reforms were introduced for the 1841 Ireland census and the radical format remained largely unchanged for the remaining all-Ireland censuses.

In line with the rest of the UK, householders now had to complete a householder’s form (Family Form A) but, unlike the rest of the UK, the form was not destroyed by the census authorities once its details had been copied.

The Family Form A asked householders more questions than its counterpart in the census of Great Britain (such as relationship to householder and marital status). Also, householders had to provide details on, not only individuals who stayed overnight on census night, but also on family members who were absent, or individuals who had died, since the previous census.

Another innovation, unique to Ireland, was the introduction of a house survey (House and Building Form B). This was carried out by enumerators in the lead up to census day and helps us understand our ancestor’s living conditions.

The 1851 Ireland census expanded the census questions on Form A (i.e. the ‘disability question’ and, unique to the UK, a language question) and introduced another Householder’s Form; ‘Return of the Sick’ Form C.

The 1851 census of Ireland also introduced a shipping return (by extending form B) and a host of other census forms, many of which were for different types of institutions such as workhouses, hospitals, educational establishments, barracks, lunatic asylums, prisons etc. However, few of these forms recorded any personal information.

All-Ireland census records 1861 – 1891

The census records for both the 1861 and 1871 Ireland censuses were deliberately destroyed once the censuses had completed. On both occasions this was a deliberate decision made on privacy grounds.

Unfortunately, whilst the 1881 and 1891 census records were initially archived, they were later pulped during World War I, apparently due to a paper shortage.

All-Ireland census records 1901 – 1911

By the 20th Century, the Ireland census was more closely aligned with that of the rest of the UK, and the householder’s census questions were broadly the same. In line with the rest of the UK, the 1911 census of Ireland included the unpopular ‘fertility question’.

The enumerators still had to complete house surveys and there were still an array of other census forms (mainly for institutions).

The 1901 and 1911 Ireland censuses are the first two censuses for which full records still exist. 

Post-partition

The scheduled 1921 Ireland census was postponed due to the troubles in Ireland. Post-partition, two separate censuses were carried out in Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in 1926. Unfortunately, the records for the 1926 census of Northern Ireland have been lost – presumed destroyed during World War II. The 1926 Census for the Irish Free State have survived and are slated for release in January 1927.

The National Register

This ‘Wartime census’ was taken throughout the UK on the outbreak of World War II in 1939 and bears many of the characteristics of a standard decennial census. Of most immediate significance, it circumvents the 100 years’ rule – providing the person you are researching has died. Visit Findmypast.co.uk to see how you can access this register.

Sources

Ireland. Census office, W. R. (William Robert) Wilde, and William Tighe Hamilton. Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Take the Census of Ireland for the Year 1841. Dublin: Printed by A. Thom for H. M. Stationery off., 1843.

Ireland. Census Office. Census of Ireland, 1901. Dublin: Printed for H.M. Stationery Off., by Cahill, 190102.