What information will a census household return give me for older research?
The household return, Form A, lists everyone in the house on census night: name, age, sex, relationship to the head of household, religion, occupation, marital status, and county or country of birth, with notes on reading and writing and on speaking Irish. In 1911 a married woman also stated how long she had been married and how many children she had borne and how many were still living, which points to a marriage year and to children who died young. Linked forms describe the house and its outbuildings. Ages are the weak point and can drift between censuses, so treat them as a guide and let the townland and the household group carry the identification.
Useful pages: The Irish surnames map · Trace your Irish roots · The 1926 Census guide · Coming home · Irish around the world · Plan your journey
Sources
- National Archives of Ireland: the 1901 and 1911 censuses, census fragments, Tithe Applotment Books and research guidance, nationalarchives.ie
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