Irish Censuses
When were censuses taken in Ireland and what survives?
The people of Ireland have been counted for various purposes over the last 300 years or so, mostly by the church and the state. Some of these records survive but most of the earliest ones are limited in scope both with respect to the detail they include and their geographical extent.
Let's start with the most genealogically useful censuses - population censuses of the whole of Ireland. These were taken every ten years since 1821, but those up to 1851 (bar a few fragments) were destroyed in the 1922 Four Courts fire. What is sometimes less well known is that those from 1861 through to 1891 were actually pulped by the prevailing government in a early bout of recycling zeal that left genealogists weeping many years later. That leaves us with the 1901 and 1911 censuses that did survive.
No census was taken in 1921 for fairly obvious reasons but by 1926 both the new Irish Free State and Northern Ireland did conduct a census of their respective counties. The records for the Irish Free State are currently closed and will not be released until January 2027 (although there is a petition to try to bring this date forward.) Sadly it appears that the returns for Northern Ireland were lost (possibly casually destroyed) during WW2. Claire Santry has written about the potential of the UK 1939 Register for finding Northern Irish kin but access is not straightforward.
For much more background detail, be sure to read John Grenham's highly informative pages on the Irish censuses to discover more about the surviving fragments and much more, including what has not been included in the indexing and / or images.
The people of Ireland have been counted for various purposes over the last 300 years or so, mostly by the church and the state. Some of these records survive but most of the earliest ones are limited in scope both with respect to the detail they include and their geographical extent.
Let's start with the most genealogically useful censuses - population censuses of the whole of Ireland. These were taken every ten years since 1821, but those up to 1851 (bar a few fragments) were destroyed in the 1922 Four Courts fire. What is sometimes less well known is that those from 1861 through to 1891 were actually pulped by the prevailing government in a early bout of recycling zeal that left genealogists weeping many years later. That leaves us with the 1901 and 1911 censuses that did survive.
No census was taken in 1921 for fairly obvious reasons but by 1926 both the new Irish Free State and Northern Ireland did conduct a census of their respective counties. The records for the Irish Free State are currently closed and will not be released until January 2027 (although there is a petition to try to bring this date forward.) Sadly it appears that the returns for Northern Ireland were lost (possibly casually destroyed) during WW2. Claire Santry has written about the potential of the UK 1939 Register for finding Northern Irish kin but access is not straightforward.
For much more background detail, be sure to read John Grenham's highly informative pages on the Irish censuses to discover more about the surviving fragments and much more, including what has not been included in the indexing and / or images.
What can you find out from the census?
There are a number of forms that were filled in by both households and enumerators. Households filled out forms like the one top left of this page (click to enlarge it.) Names, relationships, ages, county of birth, occupation and religion were recorded along with some information on marriage and child mortality in 1911 only. If your ancestor could sign their name, then that will also be on the form which is rather lovely.
Be sure to always check out Form A too if it is available, as it will contain important geographical information that could help you further your research - see my Irish Census Geography page for more inspiration.
Enumerators also used summary forms to record property details, which means you can find out exactly how many pig houses your farming ancestor had!
There are a number of forms that were filled in by both households and enumerators. Households filled out forms like the one top left of this page (click to enlarge it.) Names, relationships, ages, county of birth, occupation and religion were recorded along with some information on marriage and child mortality in 1911 only. If your ancestor could sign their name, then that will also be on the form which is rather lovely.
Be sure to always check out Form A too if it is available, as it will contain important geographical information that could help you further your research - see my Irish Census Geography page for more inspiration.
Enumerators also used summary forms to record property details, which means you can find out exactly how many pig houses your farming ancestor had!
Where are Irish censuses available online?
The early 20th century censuses have been digitised and are freely available via the National Archives of Ireland. You can also access the same images via Ancestry and FindMyPast, taking advantage of their different search interfaces if you have access.
Those surviving fragments from the first half of the 19th century are also available online, but they are very limited in scope - read any descriptions carefully before searching and be lucky!
Also look out for surviving census fragments that have been seized upon by enthusiastic genies, transcribed and made available for others to benefit from. For example, Cavan Townlands has some invaluable data from both the 1821 and 1841 census for selected parishes in the county.
There is another way to access some of the information that was contained in some of those early censuses, albeit in a very limited way. When the old age pension was introduced in 1909, prospective pensioners had to prove they were at least 70 to qualify for it. As civil registration of births did not begin until 1864, another way of gaining this proof was to apply for a search of the 1841 & 1851 censuses (that still existed in the PROI at that time) to locate them as children living with their families.
The early 20th century censuses have been digitised and are freely available via the National Archives of Ireland. You can also access the same images via Ancestry and FindMyPast, taking advantage of their different search interfaces if you have access.
- 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses (NAI)
- Web: Ireland, Census, 1901 (Anc=£)
- Web: Ireland, Census, 1911 (Anc=£)
- Ireland Census 1901 (FMP=£)
- Ireland Census 1911 (FMP=£)
Those surviving fragments from the first half of the 19th century are also available online, but they are very limited in scope - read any descriptions carefully before searching and be lucky!
Also look out for surviving census fragments that have been seized upon by enthusiastic genies, transcribed and made available for others to benefit from. For example, Cavan Townlands has some invaluable data from both the 1821 and 1841 census for selected parishes in the county.
There is another way to access some of the information that was contained in some of those early censuses, albeit in a very limited way. When the old age pension was introduced in 1909, prospective pensioners had to prove they were at least 70 to qualify for it. As civil registration of births did not begin until 1864, another way of gaining this proof was to apply for a search of the 1841 & 1851 censuses (that still existed in the PROI at that time) to locate them as children living with their families.
What other census substitutes are available?
Given the loss of virtually all of the 19th century population censuses, genealogists have turned to other records to try to bridge that fairly huge gap. Although these are often grouped under the heading "census substitute", they are much more limited in terms of what you can learn. This is usually limited to an approximation for a head of household in a specific location and the vast majority are male.
One very well known census substitute is Griffith's Valuation - check out my page for more information and be sure to look carefully for whatever land-holding actually had a house on it for the best clue as to where the family may have been living. Other holdings may just be fields. The problem with this source though is that the lands were surveyed over quite a long period and you must be cautious of reading too much into an entry, especially when you are dealing with not uncommon names in the same area.
For the 18th century, there are a few sources that might help you locate a name in association with a place, but again be careful of drawing too many conclusions. Religious surveys were a hot topic as the ruling minority Protestant classes fretted about the numbers of Catholics.
The Bishop of Elphin conducted a Census of the Diocese of Elphin in 1749, which covered parishes in Cos. Roscommon, Sligo and Galway. This has been made available online in a number of formats;
Given the loss of virtually all of the 19th century population censuses, genealogists have turned to other records to try to bridge that fairly huge gap. Although these are often grouped under the heading "census substitute", they are much more limited in terms of what you can learn. This is usually limited to an approximation for a head of household in a specific location and the vast majority are male.
One very well known census substitute is Griffith's Valuation - check out my page for more information and be sure to look carefully for whatever land-holding actually had a house on it for the best clue as to where the family may have been living. Other holdings may just be fields. The problem with this source though is that the lands were surveyed over quite a long period and you must be cautious of reading too much into an entry, especially when you are dealing with not uncommon names in the same area.
For the 18th century, there are a few sources that might help you locate a name in association with a place, but again be careful of drawing too many conclusions. Religious surveys were a hot topic as the ruling minority Protestant classes fretted about the numbers of Catholics.
The Bishop of Elphin conducted a Census of the Diocese of Elphin in 1749, which covered parishes in Cos. Roscommon, Sligo and Galway. This has been made available online in a number of formats;
Religious Census of 1766
Census of Elphin
(c) Irish Geneaography - 2022
