Trades and Professions in the Census 1841-1901

Trying to ask the right question

The manner in which the question of occupation was worded developed somewhat haphazardly over the census years 1841-1901. 

The enquiry was first put to the populace in 1841, the 'first modern census' of the UK, thus:
'PROFESSION, TRADE, EMPLOYMENT, or of INDEPENDANT MEANS'.

From 1851-1881 the query held steady, namely: 'Rank, Profession, or Occupation'.

But come 1891, 'Rank' was dropped and it changed to: 'PROFESSION or OCCUPATION'. This was the first occasion when a qualifier was required, as whether the individual was an 'Employer',  'Employed' or 'Neither employer nor employed, but working on own account'. 

In 1901 the choices were reworded to 'Employer, Worker, or Own Account', plus an additional column was added, 'If Working at Home'. 

Defining Occupations

Enumerators were initially permitted to use pre-defined abbreviations for certain occupations. This was first and mainly employed in 1841, but their numbers tailed off over the years, ending by 1891. In 1841 these ranged from the ubiquitous Ag. Lab. (Agricultural Labourer) to Sh. (Shopman). For a list, see our table of Abbreviations to describe Occupations.

To enable Census Office clerks to correctly assign each occupation to a particular category, in 1861 the GRO issued a set of instructions. It was entitled 'Instructions to the Clerks Employed in Classifying the Occupations and Ages of the People'. It listed every conceivable occupation dividing them into 'Classes', 'Orders' and sub-Orders'.

As the nineteenth century progressed so did the number of occupations, hence this hefty tome went through a series of revisions and refinements (the final edition being published in 1911).

Clerks would allocate code numbers against a given occupation. They would check of occupations as they went - sometimes obscuring entries - and make notes in the occupation columns. A code from the 1891 census is '020/3', namely Order 20, sub-Order 3. This specific code encompassed dealers, merchants and labourers in timber and wood. 

In 1881, the new Registrar General wrote: 'In the first place, the number of distinct manufactures and industries in such a country as this is enormous. Moreover, most of these manufactures and industries are sub-divided with great minuteness...not infrequently by several different designations in different localities.' A dictionary of occupations employed in previous censuses soon became obsolete. Consequently, with the input of 'leading manufacturers', a new GRO dictionary was compiled containing 'between eleven and twelve thousand different occupations...'        

As an example, the occupation of 'Clipper' in the the 1881 dictionary could refer to four roles across a similar number of trades, namely: 'Clipper (Bolt) BOLT &c. MAKER', 'Clipper (Lace) LACE MANUF', Clipper (Leather) CURRIER', and finally 'Clipper (Wool) WOOLLEN CLOTH MANUF'. 

The 1927 'Dictionary of Occupational Terms' outdid that of the 1880s, by defining nearly 17,000 occupations.     

One must be wary of regional - and thereby unintentionally ambiguous - terminology when it comes to occupations. A prime example is a 'bank manager'. To many this would appear obvious, but in mining districts it could equally apply to someone who oversaw operations at the pithead. In some areas a clothier meant a clothmaker, whilst in others it was applied to a cloth dealer.

In the early censuses the nature of employment can be frustratingly vague; 'labourer' being one of the least illuminating. 'Labourer' could cover a whole range of activities, be it agricultural, dock, road, rail etc. Determining industries common to the area might determine whether a 'Weaver' handled wool or cotton.    

To aid in hard to read or perhaps understand job titles check our Trades and Professions page.

'In the Nineteenth Century the Northumbrians Show the World
What Can be Done with Iron and Coal' (1861) by William Bell Scott 

Seasonal, Casual and Multiple Occupations

One must remember that each census was a moment in time and frequently fell during the months of March or April. The census of 1841 was the only summer census (until 1921) and took place on a fine harvest night, which meant many were called out to work the fields. This naturally meant not all were accounted for; hence the future choice of spring censuses. 

Many individuals worked on a seasonal basis, especially in the agricultural sector. Casual and part-time employment employment was widespread. Consequently, one must not assume that a position held come census-time was held year in, year out.

An allowance for those holding multiple occupations came into effect from 1851. Instructions were to the effect that individuals 'may' (1851), 'should' (1861), 'must' (1891) state their 'distinct trade' (1851), 'distinct business' (1861), 'distinct occupations' (from 1871) in order of importance. When it came to collating data census clerks counted the 'most important' first.

Women and Children 

For women, the position of home housekeeper was excluded from occupations. From 1851-1881 household instructions made it clear that 'any, but domestic duties' were to be 'distinctly recorded'. In the same period though, the family of a 'Farmer' were presumed to be working, as they could be recorded as 'Farmer's wife' etc. 

Charlotte Brontë, though revealed by 1851 as the author of the commercially successful Jane Eyre, had her 'Rank, Profession, or Occupation' recorded as 'None'. Her novel had earned her the not inconsiderable sum of £500; 25 times her annual salary as a governess.

The aforementioned GRO dictionaries totally failed to mention what was the third or forth largest paid occupation amongst women, namely prostitution. Whilst some did not shy from having their means of living jotted down in black and white, the majority used common catch-alls such as 'Seamstress', 'Dressmaker' or 'Of independent means'. In an 1881 census entry for a Manchester police station, a Sarah J. Hallsworth, prisoner, is recorded as 'Weaver of Cotton (Prostitute)' - clearly not her choice of words.     

The Central Glamorgan Gazette (7 April 1871) wryly observed that 'No man is likely to write himself down "habitual thief" in the column for occupation, nor can we imagine a woman characterising herself as a 'prostitute." Euphemisms or downright misrepresentations will be employed, and we must expect to see the ranks of "labourers" and "dressmakers," for instance, swelled by the addition of many names that do not legitimately belong to them.'

Children were all to commonly designated 'Scholar' (i.e. at school), which undoubtedly hid those working to supplement the family income. Following the Elementary Education Act of 1876, the heads of some working-class households would have opted for this designation to hide children in employment. 

Masters and workers

From 1851-1881 employers were meant to indicate the number in their employment. An example provided for enumerators in 1851 was: 'Shoemaker (master employing 15 men, 3 women)'. Despite explicit instructions, many employers wholly failed to mention their employees.

As already mentioned, the 1891 census was when whether 'Employer', 'Employed' or 'on own account' were delineated. This addition was forced on the GRO by the 1890 Treasury Committee on the Census. Unfortunately, these fields - to be marked by a 'X' - were often left blank or answered incorrectly. To the enumerators' instructions were added the occupations of 'Master' and 'Apprentice'. 

The Retired, Unemployed and 'Inmates'

In 1851 householders were instructed that 'Persons of advanced age who have RETIRED FROM BUSINESS to be entered thus - 'Retired silk merchant', Retired watchmaker', &c. 
ALMSPEOPLE, and persons in the receipt of parish relief should, after being described as such, have their previous occupations inserted.' No such provision had been made in the census ten years prior.

In 1871 (and 1881) the unemployed were specifically covered by the instruction: 'Persons ordinarily engaged in some industry, BUT OUT OF EMPLOYMENT on April 2nd, should be so described, as "Coal miner, unemployed", Printer, unemployed"'. 

Even though housed in institutions and not working, the inmates of prisons, hospitals and workhouses often have an occupation listed. For example, I found a great uncle behind bars at Wandsworth Prison who was designated a 'Plumber'. In no way could he and others have been judged economically active.

Post 1901

1911 saw a radical shake up in census taking. Under 'Profession or Occupation' the columns expanded to four and were applicable to 'persons aged ten years and upwards'.  Those working had to specify the precise branch, kind of work and article made, material worked or dealt in. The choices from 1901 were retained, namely relating to their position; whether it be 'employer', 'worker' (employee) or 'own account' and finally if they worked at home.