The 1911 Census in England and Wales: Time for Change

Let's look of each of these changes in turn.

1911, the 'Fertility Census'

In the 'Particulars to Marriage' section, the following enquiry was made of each married woman:
'Completed years the present Marriage has lasted. If less than one year write "under one."'
Then under a heading 'Children born alive to present Marriage. (If no children born alive write "None" in column 7).' there were three sub-columns:
'Total Children Born Alive.'
'Children still Living.'
'Children who have Died.'

These major additions were prompted by concern regarding a falling birth rate, general health amongst the population and a rise in emigration. Despite advances in public health, housing and education since 1841, there had not been a great improvement in the health of poor children and infant mortality was stubbornly high.

The Superintendent of Statistics, Thomas Stevenson, had proposed that detailed enquiries would illustrate 'the prospects of fertility for any given union of husband and wife of specified ages.' 

Despite being targeted at married women the above questions were erroneously answered by widows, single women, husbands, widowers and divorcees. Having been questioned about 'Children who have Died', some confused householders decided to list them by name. This may account for why this census recorded 1.6% more children than anticipated. 

In an attempt to conceal children born within their relationship - yet out of their marriage - individuals would sometimes up the figure under 'completed years' of marriage.

The requirement to provide the number of children within the current marriage can alert researchers to offspring who were born or died between censuses. It also has the potential to reveal other marriages, relationships and stepchildren.

An interesting entry is that of Emmer [sic] Jane Shephard, who in her 25-year marriage to Harry Shephard had given birth to 18 children, 13 of whom were still alive in 1911. Under 'Personal Occupation' either she or husband decided to opt for 'Slave for Children'; 11 were still living at home, ranging from 3 months to 19 years.

The sheer volume of data produced and the Great War of 1914-18 meant the complete 'Fertility of Marriage' report did not see light of day until 1923.

It showed that 'from the 1860s through to 1911, the average number of children born to married couples had fallen by nearly half. It also demonstrated that unskilled workers' families, at an average of four children, were twice the size of those of professionals.' (Chris Renwick, Bread for All: The Origins of the Welfare State, 2017) This meant the average family had 2.8 children.

Note Fertility in marriage questions had been included in the American census since 1890.

To view the schedule headings and instructions visit our 1911 Census page. 

The Retention of Original Returns

In 1911 - for the very first time - we are viewing a truly primary and complete census. What we view today are first-hand entries made by the head of the family or institutional officer. Along with this we can see their signature in the bottom right-hand corner. Consequently any errors or statements are their own, rather than that of transcribers, which was the case with transfer to enumeration books.

1911 is also notable for being boycotted by some suffragettes. Those who didn't avoid enumerators all together, provided no information or the bare minimum. Some penned suffragette slogans and defiant protestations on their schedules. For more information read our blog article 'No vote, No Census': the Suffragette Boycott of the 1911 Census.
      

Nationality for those Born Overseas

Unlike previous years, 1911 enquired as to the 'Nationality of every Person born in a Foreign Country'. Three options were provided, namely:
(1) "British subject by parentage."
(2) "Naturalised British subject," giving year of naturalisation.
(3) If of foreign nationality, state whether "French," "German," "Russian," etc.

The final question was driven by a concern amongst some regarding a perceived high level of immigration.

The Onset of Infirmity

As before a list of four specified infirmities were listed, but in 1911 the head was asked to write down at what age the 'affliction' began.

The British Army stationed overseas

The British Army had a presence in countries such as India, South Africa and the West Indies. Previously only headcounts had been taken, but in 1911 men, their wives and children were enumerated like their compatriots back home. 

Special schedules were printed, with fewer columns than those in the UK. One set was for the men (seven columns) and another for their families (seven columns). Any researcher though has to establish familial links by surname and the overseas establishment as connections were not originally made. 

The returns for 288 overseas military establishments are recorded in 23 volumes. Over 135,000 officers and men were enumerated; details include their rank and unit name.

Notes
Soldiers not on base on census night were listed as 'Absent'. If on home leave, their home country (England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland) were noted. 

The Census Translated 

The 1911 schedules were also printed in Welsh for completion by native speakers/writers. The Census Report showed that around 8.5% of the population of Wales only spoke Welsh and 35% spoke English and Welsh.

Tabulation 

Sir Bernard Mallett (1859-1932), the sixth and recently appointed Registrar General, championed the introduction of tabulation machines. His enthusiasm was undoubtedly a reflection of his Presidency of the Royal Statistical Society. Census processing machines had already been employed in the United States, amongst other countries. 

A Hollerith electro-mechanical punch-card machine as supplied to the General
Register Office for England and Wales (GRO) by the British Tabulating Machine Company.

Their employment meant that more questions, such as those above, could be added. In 1911 this meant up to 19 pieces of information for each person. Tabulation also meant census data could be cross-referenced and sorted. No longer was there a need to transcribe schedules into Census Enumerators' Books (CEBs).

An army of coders, clerks and punchers were employed to process and tabulate the schedule data as it arrived to the Census Office in Millbank. In a sign of the times, the code assigned to women identifying as suffragettes, matched that for vagrants. 

Cut-down Enumerator's Summary Books (ESBs)

Unlike those of from 1841-1901 these feature little information regarding individuals.  
They are arranged thus:

• Enumeration District: Local sub-divisions, Boundary, List of the streets
• Enumerator's instructions and examples on book completion.
• Summary Pages: List of properties, schedule numbers, household address, property type, surname of head, title of head, number of males and females in each. 
• Abstract Pages: Totals from the summary pages providing the district total.
• Final Page: The Statutory Declaration signed and dated by the enumerator and registrar.
  
  

A New Record for Records

The cumulative records for 1911 are 12 times the size of the 1901 census. Over 8 million schedules record the details of over 36 million individuals. 35,000 volumes occupy around two kilometres of shelving The National Archives (TNA) in Kew, London.

How to Access the 1911 Census

England and Wales

You can search and view digitised images of the 1841-1921 censuses (plus the 1939 Register) of England and Wales by subscribing to Findmypast, 'The home of British and Irish family history'. Until at least 2025, it will remain the only site where you can access and search the 1921 census online - available through their 'Premium' package (3 or 12 months) or via micropayments on other packages.

Scotland

Digitised images from the Scotland Census (1841-1921) are only publicly available through ScotlandsPeople. Each record is free to search, but currently costs £1.50 (six credits) to view.