The 1911 Census – held on 2 April 1911

The 1911 census of the UK was, as usual, three censuses combined; the census of England and Wales; of Scotland; and of Ireland. Crucially for researchers of war records, this was the first census to properly record the British Army posted overseas. On a more controversial note, a ‘fertility’ question was introduced, prompting a ‘boycott the census’ movement. In Great Britain, early computing techniques were adopted, and, for the first time in England and Wales, the original householder’s forms were not destroyed giving us a better understanding of our ancestors.

This was the last all-Ireland census. As with previous UK censuses, the Ireland census was subject to a separate census act from the rest of the UK and, as a result, was unique in many respects. Please visit our Ireland census records page for more information on the Ireland census. The rest of this article discusses the census of Great Britain – i.e. the census of England and Wales,and the census of Scotland.

The Census Schedule

This census form asked each Head of Family (‘or other person in occupation, or in charge, of this dwelling’) to enter the personal details of every person who passed census night in the dwelling, or arrived there next morning (unless recorded elsewhere). Only those ‘alive at midnight’ on census night were to be recorded.

Prior to the 1911 census, an enumerator (i.e. a census taker) collected the householder’s schedule and copied its contents into an ‘enumeration book’. The original schedule, completed by the householder, was destroyed. This system had operated across Great Britain since the census of 1841. It meant that all pre-1911 UK census records (apart from Ireland census records) were copies of the enumeration books.

The 1911 census was the first census in England and Wales to keep the householder’s schedules, a system that had been routinely adopted in Ireland. 1911 census records for England and Wales are, therefore, copies of these original householder’s schedules, generally in the householder’s own writing. The pre-1911 census enumeration books were replaced with enumeration summary books (ESB) which only recorded the head of every household. (The ESBs are still important because they supply details of addresses including unoccupied dwellings, commercial properties and churches).

Scotland did not adopt this new system and, as a result, 1911 Scotland census records continued to comprise copies of the enumeration books.

What was new in the ‘Fertility Census’ of 1911?

The census of 1911 introduced many other changes; in many ways, this was the census that dragged the UK census into the 20th Century.

The census questions

Most of the questions introduced in the census of 1911 were designed to help form Government policy or address specific Government concerns.

The Fertility Question

Applicable to married women only, this formed part of the ‘Particulars as to Marriage’ question. This was by far the most controversial new question and reflected the Government’s concern at the UK’s declining fertility. Ironically, the first census of 1801 had been prompted partly by fears of unsustainable population growth. It was ditched for the 1921 census.

Profession or occupation

This question was expanded to include a description of the actual industry or service in which an individual was employed. There were also some changes to the householder’s guidance notes. Previously, multiple occupations (if applicable) were to be listed by importance; now, only the main occupation was to be inserted. The guidance notes also specified that, if unemployed, the usual occupation was to be entered; unemployment status had not been asked since the census of 1881.

Birthplace and nationality questions

The old ‘where born’ question was updated and split into two separate questions. For those born in any part of the UK, the town/parish and county of birth was now required. Previously, if born in another country within the UK (with England and Wales treated as one country), the country of birth only was required.

Although the question of nationality had already appeared in previous censuses (in the instructions to householders) it was now given its own billing. The England and Wales census asked whether an individual born outside England or Wales was a resident or a visitor, and also asked for the year of naturalisation (if a naturalised British subject). This increased emphasis on birthplace and nationality reflected a growing interest in foreigners in the years leading up to World War I.

Other changes

The ‘infirmity’ question now asked for age of onset (England and Wales census) or whether onset occurred in infancy (Scotland census).

The England and Wales census now asked all householders to enter the number of dwelling rooms (including kitchens but excluding such areas as sculleries, closets or bathrooms); previously, occupiers of less than 5 rooms were asked for the number of rooms they occupied. The Scotland census remained unchanged in asking for the number of windowed rooms.

Introduction of automated data entry

For the first time, the census information supplied by the householders was processed using punched cards – a type of early computer. In its scope and systems, the 1911 census was starting to resemble the modern census we recognise today.

The British Army overseas

This was the first census to record personal information on British soldiers and their families posted overseas. This was a hugely welcome development. Previous UK censuses recorded only raw numbers of this sizeable group of people – a shortcoming that was particularly exposed in the 1901 census, conducted in the midst of the Second Boer War. When studying pre-1911 census records, it is always frustrating when ancestors disappear from the census records because they were posted overseas with the British Army. For information on pre-1911 forces records, please visit military records.

Population Recorded

The population figures in the UK and rest of the British Empire were as follows:

1911 Census – Population recorded*

Country	Population	†Change(%)
†Change(%) since last census. Source: Census of England and Wales, 1921, Preliminary report. Please visit Census Records for population in other census years.
England	34,045,290	10.5%
Wales	2,025,202	17.7%
Scotland	4,760,904	6.5%
Ireland	4,390,219	-1.5%
UK population	45,221,615	9.1%
Islands of the British Seas	148,915	-1%

Britain at the time of the 2 April 1911 Census.

Monarch

George V (1910 – 1936)

Prime Minister

H. H. Asquith. (Full title: Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith.)

Government of the day

The Liberal Government (1905 – 1915)

Foreign Secretary

Sir Edward Grey. (Full title: Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon.)

Chancellor of the Exchequer

David Lloyd George. (Full title: 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor.)