The first successfully completed census of Ireland took place in 1821. Unfortunately it, and almost all the census returns after that up until 1891, were destroyed, either by government order during the First World War or were lost in the destruction of the Public Record Office in Dublin, in 1922. A few remnants remain of the 1821 - 1851 censuses, but that of 1901 is the earliest and only complete census of Northern Ireland that survives as a public record.
What is recorded?
All those in the house at the time were included on the form. This means that servants, lodgers, boarders and even visiting friends are included but those members of the family away from home on the day were not included with the other family members. The information was gathered by the local constabulary on 31 March 1901, and recorded the following:
First, or Christian, name of each member of the household
Surname
Relationship to the head of the household
Religious denomination
Literacy level
Age
Gender
Occupation
Marital status
Place of birth
Ability to speak or write Irish
If disabled, nature of disability.
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In the case of a City or Town please give the name of the City and the Street in place of Parish and townland
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