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In 1801 the very first census took place in Great Britain. Ireland wasn't part of this yet. A census is a detailed count or survey of the population of a country. You could argue that the Doomsday Book was actually the very first one but most historians use the 1801 version as the very first. It was taken on Tuesday 10th March and gave a population of 10.9 million people and 1.8 million houses. The Act said that vicars, schoolmasters, owners of large houses and a few other people had to make a written account of all the people in every parish, township and place in Great Britain. The account had to show:-
How many inhabited houses are there; by how many families are they occupied; and, how many houses therein are uninhabited?
How many persons (including children of whatever age) are there actually found within the limits of your parish, township, or place, at the time of taking this account, distinguishing between male and females but excluding men actually serving in His Majesty's Registrar Forces or Militia, and exclusive of seamen either in His Majesty Service or belonging to Registered Vessels?
What number of persons, are chiefly employed in agriculture; how many in trade, manufactures, or handicraft; and, how many are not in any of the those classes?
What was the number of baptisms and burials in the years 1700, 1710, 1720, 1730, 1740, 1750, 1760, 1770, 1780 and each subsequent year, to the 31st day of December 1800, distinguishing males from females?
What has been the number of marriages in each year, from the year 1754 inclusive to the end of the year 1800?
Are there any matters which you think it necessary to remark in explanation of your answers to any of the preceding questions?
The fourth and fifth questions were the responsibility of the local parish clergy, using the information in their parish registers.
A census has happened in the United Kingdom every ten years since 1801 with the exception of 1941, during World War II. In 1841 the way it was compiled
changed. Instead of vicars, schoolmasters and large home owners (well owners of large homes actually) giving the information, every head of a household in the UK
was required to fill in a form on behalf of everyone living at that address on a particular day. This method is still in use today, although more questions have
been added, or to be more precise in 2021 when the next census will take place.
You can find out some of the results on various websites and, if you remember, next year (2021) you can check what the census form looks like when it
is sent to your home. However it may be the last time anyone will ever see the form. The government and its advisors are looking for different ways to collect the
information. One reason for changing the method is that it is estimated that this 2021 census will cost £906m and that would be double the amount spent in 2011. The
advisors are looking to see if accurate information could be got from doctors' lists, council tax records and driving licence details. Personally I'm not quite sure
how this would work. Not everyone has a doctor and not everyone has a driving licence. The findings of the review are due to be published in 2023. Look out for it.
NOTE
Partly due to the Covid pandemic the 2021 census was mainly completed on-line. Each household was sent a letter giving a code to use when you went to the website but also telling people how to get hold of the paper form
if they were unable to go on-line. I can't tell you what that form looked like as I did mine on-line.
