1891 United Kingdom census results
- When
- 1891
- Where
- United Kingdom; Cities; Wales
- Episodes
- 4
The 1891 United Kingdom census was conducted on Sunday 5 April 1891. It introduced new questions regarding household room counts to address urban overcrowding concerns. This census marked the first time women were employed as census takers and the first to inquire about Welsh language ability in Wales.
Episodes
- Urban Overcrowding Inquiry
A question was added to record household room numbers due to concerns about city overcrowding.
- Welsh Language Inquiry
The 1891 census was the first to ask about Welsh language ability in Wales.
- Terminology Change
The term 'idiot' was replaced by 'feeble-minded' in the 1891 census returns.
- Census Execution
The 1891 census was carried out on Sunday 5 April 1891 across the United Kingdom.
Background and detail
Background. The 1891 census was a nationwide enumeration of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Conducted on Sunday 5 April 1891, it served as a key demographic snapshot. The event is notable for specific procedural changes, including the addition of questions about household room numbers to monitor overcrowding in cities.
Methodology. This census introduced significant methodological updates. It was the first to employ women as census takers. Additionally, it included a specific question regarding the ability to speak the Welsh language, marking a first for Wales. These changes reflected evolving social concerns and administrative practices.
Terminology. The 1891 census utilized specific terminology for recording mental status. The term "idiot" was replaced by "feeble-minded" in the census returns. This change reflects the evolving language used in official demographic records during this period.
People involved
- Women census takers · First employed as census takers
Sources
- 1891 United Kingdom census Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-23
- 1901 United Kingdom census Wikipedia, revision of 2026-03-20
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.