Catalogue description General Register Office: Census Reports and Population Abstracts

This series contains copies of the printed general reports of the censuses from 1861 to 1981 inclusive, of the enumeration abstract from the census of 1841 and of one per cent sample tables from the census of 1951. The general reports and abstracts contain various population data covering such aspects as age, sex, marital condition, birthplace, occupation and area. The later volumes cover a wider range and for more detailed statistics reference should be made to the reports which deal with specific subjects. Also included is a manuscript volume of notes and workings estimating pre-census population prepared by John Rickman, the results of which were published in the report on the 1841 census.

The General Report of each census provides a full description of the particular enumeration, new developments and observations of the results. A major development was the introduction of mechanisation in the 1911 census. The General Reports of the censuses of 1901 and 1911 contain a full account of the scope of the censuses taken up to those dates and of the legislation under which they were held.

A comprehensive set of Census Reports is available for inspection at the Library of Office of National Statistics, Drummond Gate, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ.

General Register Office, 1836-1970

Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, 1970-1996

Guide to Census Reports, Great Britain 1801-1966, (HMSO, 1977)