The Story of the Scotland Census 1841-1921

1841

1841 marked a new form of census; person-based, rather than just a figure count. In Scotland, the enumerator reported to the sheriff substitute (for counties and stewartries) or the provost (for burghs). 

There are only two street indexes for the 1841 Scotland census, namely Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 6 June 1841 was 2,620,184.

The following 26 parishes are missing from the GROS records. About 30% of data from the  county of Fife is missing; the results are believed been lost overboard during their transit by boat to Edinburgh. The archipelago of St Kilda was initially missed out, but a later voyage accounted for all 109 inhabitants.  

Note
326 - Abernethy (residents of Fife are missing), 404 - Arngask (residents of Fife are missing), 434 - Kennoway (only the enumeration book for Markinch has survived).

1851

As in 1841, the enumerator reported to the sheriff substitute (for counties and stewartries) or the provost (for burghs). 

In line with the rest of the United Kingdom, a disability column was added; the question being 'Whether Blind, or Deaf and Dumb.'

There are ten street indexes for the 1851 Scotland census: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Leith, Glasgow, Greenock, Inveresk, New Monkland, Old Aberdeen, Old Monkland, and Paisley.
These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 30 March 1851 was 2,888,742.

The following seven Registration Districts are missing from the GROS records:

1861

Following 'The 1854 Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act', a Registrar General for Scotland was appointed in September 1854. Consequently, the 1861 census was the first carried out by the new office of the Registrar General and the network of local Registrars.

William Pitt Dundas (1801-1883), the first Registrar General for Scotland. He oversaw
the 1861 and 1871 censuses for Scotland and did much groundwork for 1881.

In 1861, Scotland had two further questions added. The number of rooms with one or more windows was recorded; this served as an indicator of housing and sanitary conditions. Enquiry was also made as to the number of children (aged 5-15) educated at school or home.

There are 16 street indexes for the 1861 Scotland census: Aberdeen, Airdrie, Arbroath, Ayr with St Quivox and Newtown-on-Ayr, Brechin, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Kilmarnock, Kircaldy with Abbotshall and Dysart, Lanark, Old Monkland, Paisley and Abbey, and Perth. These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 8 April 1861 was 3,062,294.

1871

In line with the rest of the United Kingdom, a further two options were added were added to the disability column, namely 'Imbecile or Idiot' and 'Lunatic'.

The Scotland-only education question from 1861 was amended to those aged 5-13.

There are 35 street indexes for the 1871 Scotland census: Aberdeen, Arbroath, Ayr, Bothwell and Holytown, Bothwell and Holytown, Brechin, Cadder (Western District) and Cadder (Eastern District), Cadderhead, Cambusnethan, Campbeltown, Dalry, Dumfries, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh and Leith, Falkirk, Forfar, Glasgow, Greenock, Hamilton, Hawick, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkaldy, Lesmahagow, Montrose, New Monkland, Old Monkland, Paisley, Perth, Peterhead, Rothesay, Rutherglen, Shotts, Stirling, and Stornoway.
These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 2 April 1871 was 3,360,018.

1881

Householders in Scotland were asked to write 'Gaelic' next to the birthplace of any person who 'habitually' spoke Gaelic. The number was recorded as 231,594.

The education question was dropped as this could be inferred by the given age and occupation ('Scholar').

The Scotland definition of a house differed from that used in England. To more accurately reflect households within tenements the Scottish version included dwellings with a door opening onto a common stair.

There are 29 street indexes for the 1881 Scotland census: Aberdeen, Arbroath, Ardnamurchan, Ayr, Bothwell, Cadder, Calderhead, Cambusnethan, Dalziel, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Hamilton, Hawick, Holytown, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Montrose, New Monkland, Old Monkland, Paisley, Perth, Peterhead, Rutherglen, Shotts, and Stornoway.
These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 3 April 1881 was 3,735,573.

1891

In 1891 the above language question was refined as whether an individual spoke Gaelic ('G') or Gaelic and English ('G. & E.'). 

There are 22 street indexes for the 1891 Scotland census: Aberdeen, Ayr, Barvas with Carloway, Lochs, Stornoway and Uig, Bothwell and Holytown, Cambusbnethan, Dalziel, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Hamilton, Hawick and Wilton, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkaldy and Dysart, Montrose, New Monkland, Old Monkland, Paisley, Perth with 
Kinnoull and Scone, Shotts with Calderhead and Cadder.
These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 5 April 1891 was 4,033,103.

1901

The Gaelic question was now restricted to those aged three years and over.

There are 36 street indexes for the 1901 Scotland census: Aberdeen and Nigg, Ayr, Bonhill and Renton, Bothkennar with Grangemouth and Polmont, Bothwell with Holytown and Bellshill, Cadder East and West Districts, Calderhead, Cambuslang, Cambusnethan, Dalziel, Dumbarton, Dumfries, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Flakirk, Glasgow, Greenock with Gourock and Port Glasgow area, Hamilton, Hawick, Hebrides, Inverness, Inverness Insular, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Montrose, New Kilpatrick (or East Kilpatrick), New Monkland, Old Kilpatrick, Old Monkland, Paisley and Johnstone etc, Perth (with Scone etc), Shotts, St Ninians and Cambusnethan, Stirling, and Stornoway.
These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 31 March 1901 was 4,472,103.

1910: An Important Discovery

In 1910 the Registrar General for Scotland, Sir James Patten McDougall, found the original 1841 and 1851 enumeration books stored in Whitehall, London. He then arranged for their transfer to New Register House, Edinburgh.

1911

1911 was christened the 'Fertility Census'. New questions related to married women; the number of years of their current marriage, the number of children born to that marriage, the number still alive, and the number that had died.

The new enumeration district of Bonnybridge (Stirling) was added, but due to mergers the following disappeared: Ballahuillish and Coran of Arggour (Argyll), Kilmallie (Inverness) and Duddingston (Midlothian).  

There are 31 street indexes for the 1911 Scotland census: Aberdeen, Ayr, Bonhill, Bothkennar with Grangemouth and Polmont, Bothwell with Holytown and Bellshill, Cambusnethan, Dalziel, Dumfries, Dunbarton, Dundee, Dunfermline, East and West Calder, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Greenock with Gourock and Port Glasgow, Hamilton, Hawick, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy and Dysart, Lewis and Harris, Montrose, New Kilpatrick, New Monkland, Old Kilpatrick, Old Monkland (Western District) with Coatbridge and Old Monkland (Eastern District), Paisley with Johnstone and Elderslie, Perth, Skye, St Ninians, and Stirling.
These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The official population of Scotland on 2 April 1911 was 4,760,904.

Unfortunately, unlike England and Wales, the original household returns for Scotland were destroyed. Only the transcribed enumerators' schedules are available to view.

1921

In line with the rest of the United Kingdom, further questions were added. Under a 'Marriage. Orphanhood.' column 'if marriage had been dissolved by divorce' and if under 15 whether 'father dead', 'mother dead', 'both alive' or 'both dead'.

Another new column was headed 'National Health Insurance.' and enquired if the individual had the right to medical benefit. (The National Insurance Act had received royal assent in December 1911, following that year's April census). This question was introduced to help calculate sick pay and unemployment in some industries. The disability column was removed.

There are 10 street indexes for the 1921 Scotland census: Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hebrides, Inverness, Kirkcaldy, Montrose, and Perth.
These are available as PDF files from the National Records of Scotland.

The population of Scotland in 1921 was 4,882,497.

How to Access the Scotland Census 1841-1921

Digitised images from the Scotland Census are only publicly available through ScotlandsPeople. Each record is free to search, but currently costs £1.50 (six credits) to view.

Transcriptions only - so minus images - are available via both Findmypast. and Ancestry.

N.B. Scottish Naming Customs

Family relationships can often be revealed through traditional naming patterns. Especially from the early 1800s onwards, first names would be selected as follows:

• The eldest son would be named after the paternal grandfather.
• The eldest daughter would be named after the maternal grandmother.
• The second son after the maternal grandfather.
• The second daughter after the paternal grandmother.
• The third son after the father.
• The third daughter after the mother.
• Occasionally fourth son after the father's eldest brother.
• Occasionally Fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister.
• Any subsequent children would be named after aunts and uncles.