United Kingdom
The census records which have been published relate to the occupants of each household on the date given below. These have useful information for genealogists for the censuses between 1841 (first one to keep names & places) and 1911, as well as the registration act. Earlier censuses just mainly kept "how many where" kind of info. In truth, the Census was separate for each part of the UK, meaning there was an "England and Wales" Census, an "Ireland" Census, and a "Scotland" Census.
The census records which have been published relate to the occupants of each household on the date given below. These have useful information for genealogists for the censuses between 1841 (first one to keep names & places) and 1911, as well as the registration act. Earlier censuses just mainly kept "how many where" kind of info. In truth, the Census was separate for each part of the UK, meaning there was an "England and Wales" Census, an "Ireland" Census, and a "Scotland" Census.
- United Kingdom Census 1841 - Sunday, 6 June
- United Kingdom Census 1851 - Sunday, 30 March
- United Kingdom Census 1861 - Sunday, 7 April
- United Kingdom Census 1871 - Sunday, 2 April
- United Kingdom Census 1881 - Sunday, 3 April
- United Kingdom Census 1891 - Sunday, 5 April
- United Kingdom Census 1901 - Sunday, 31 March
- United Kingdom Census 1911 - Sunday, 2 April
- National Registration Act 1939 - Friday, 29 September Second World War (Published 2 Nov 2015)
As in the US Census, different information was collected at each different Census. The 1841 Census didn't collect address information and rounded ages down to the nearest five years. A summary of them all may be found here. That site also has detail on how early censuses weren't as particular about place names and about common abbreviations.
Ireland
While the English and Scottish Censuses have mostly survived intact, sadly the Irish Census did not fare so well. The Irish Censuses of 1861 and 1871 were destroyed shortly after those censuses were taken. The Irish Censuses of 1881 and 1891 were converted to pulp during a WW1 paper shortage. Most of the 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851 were destroyed in a fire at the start of the Irish Civil War, which also caused there to be no census at all in 1921. In short, you can get good Irish Census data for 1901 and 1911. The first one after 1911 will be the 1926 Census that'll be released in 2027. Keep in mind that the Census for Northern Ireland will be different than that for the rest of Ireland.
Commonwealth
Commonwealth countries tended to follow the UK schedules, since they were mostly British Colonies when the Brits got their own Censuses going. Canada, for example, had Censuses in 1852, 1861, 1871 and so on. Australia and India both had them in 1881, 1891, 1901 and so on.
Ireland
While the English and Scottish Censuses have mostly survived intact, sadly the Irish Census did not fare so well. The Irish Censuses of 1861 and 1871 were destroyed shortly after those censuses were taken. The Irish Censuses of 1881 and 1891 were converted to pulp during a WW1 paper shortage. Most of the 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851 were destroyed in a fire at the start of the Irish Civil War, which also caused there to be no census at all in 1921. In short, you can get good Irish Census data for 1901 and 1911. The first one after 1911 will be the 1926 Census that'll be released in 2027. Keep in mind that the Census for Northern Ireland will be different than that for the rest of Ireland.
Commonwealth
Commonwealth countries tended to follow the UK schedules, since they were mostly British Colonies when the Brits got their own Censuses going. Canada, for example, had Censuses in 1852, 1861, 1871 and so on. Australia and India both had them in 1881, 1891, 1901 and so on.
