1851 United Kingdom census records 21 million people

Background. Coincident full censuses have occurred in UK jurisdictions every ten years since 1801. The 1851 census was the second to include details of household members, expanding significantly on the 1841 census by recording ages, relationships, and origins. These additions made the 1851 census a rich source for demographers and genealogists, particularly as it was the first to record full birth locations and marital status.

Methodology. The census recorded people residing in every household on the night of Sunday 30 March 1851. It included a question about religion on a separate response sheet, whose completion was not compulsory. Additionally, the government conducted a census of churches and chapels, recording attendance at religious services on 30 March 1851 and average numbers during the preceding twelve months.

Legacy. The 1851 census is seen as one of the key sources for British genealogical research of the nineteenth century. The schedules are of high importance to genealogists since 1851 was the first year in which a place of birth or parish was recorded. The 1851 census for England and Wales was opened to public inspection in 1912 and is now available from The National Archives.