1.
2.
Rogers, Colin. Family Tree Detective (FHL Ref 942 D27r) pp. 69-74
3.
Register of Towns Indexed by Streets (FHL Reg 942
X22r) intro (2 pp.) or online from step three of website just below (#4)
4.
Handout: How to Use a Street Indexes for
5.
1881 Census microfiche handout & instructions or online at http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Guide=1881_British_Census_Indexes.asp
6.
How to Use Census Surname Indexes online at http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=ENG_T3_CensusSurnameIndexes.ASP
NAME INDEXES
In addition to street
indexes, there are many name indexes. Some are full name indexes, and some are
surname only indexes. Some list every person appearing on the census forms, but
most list only heads of household or different
surnames that appear on each page of the census. Some give only names and
page numbers, while others give additional details, such as age, marital
status, or even birthplace. Because they are produced by different societies
and organizations, the layout, format, coverage, content, and even accuracy
vary.
The Family History
Library has tried to obtain every British census index available. Most are
published in small pamphlets. While all are assigned a library call number, all
of these indexes have been pulled from their numerical (call number) sequence
and are stored separately at the end of the reference row. They are listed in a
register titled Census Surname Index Register at the register
table. The register is arranged alphabetically by county in
The 1901 census is fully
indexed and available online at both ancestry.com and at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Both charge a fee, but Ancestry is free at the FHL and BYU. Ancestry has also
indexed the 1871 and 1891 census, and has a copy of the
In order to use a
surname index (other than 1881 or those online), you need to know the place,
because each place has a separate index. Those indexes that give surnames only
will list a surname followed by the page number(s) on which that name appears,
as follows:
MANN 38, 112, 261, 338, 339(2), 341, 486.
This simply means that
the surname MANN appears somewhere on the referenced page. When a number
appears in parenthesis, it indicates that the name appears in two different
families on the same page (be sure to look for both).
The 1881 census was
fully indexed by volunteers coordinated by the LDS church. Those indexes are
published on microfiche by county (with an alphabetical series for the whole
country). Further information on the 1881 census indexes is available in a
handout available on B2 and at every
STREET INDEXES
I. WHAT ARE STREET INDEXES?
The
street indexes are alphabetical lists of streets in major cities or towns in
II. WHAT
DO YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU
Before
consulting the indexes, you must have the street name and city.
III. HOW
CAN YOU OBTAIN AN ADDRESS?
Addresses
can sometimes be found:
1) in family
documents, such as old letters, deeds, etc.
2) on a Civil Registration
certificate, for births, marriage, or death.
3) in a
commercial directory (see Reference Consultant)
4) for a more
complete list, see Colin Rogers, Tracing Your British Ancestors, pp.
41-45 or the England Research Outline, p. 13.
IV. WHAT
STREET INDEXES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY?
The
street indexes are available for the years 1841-1891.
V. HOW
CAN A CENSUS FILM NUMBER BE LOCATED USING A STREET INDEX?
The
following steps need to be taken:
A. Find out if there is an index for the
town you want by looking in the grey binder titled "Street Index"
which is on the shelf near the Census Street Index volumes on the Reference row
(also called Register of Towns Indexed by Streets in bound form). This
index lists the cities by census year and volume numbers in which they are
found, and will help you locate the city and direct you to the appropriate
B. Go to the
|
1841 Census |
Ref Q 942 X 22s |
vols. 1-3 (green) |
|
1851 Census |
Ref Q 942 X 2ib |
booklet s/n, vols. 1-19 (dk. blue) |
|
1861 Census |
Ref Q 942 X 22s |
vols. 1-8 (brown) |
|
1871 Census |
Ref Q 942 X 2s |
vols. 1-16 (orange) |
|
1881 Census |
Ref Q 942 X 22s |
vols. 1-27 (maroon) (not needed--use name index |
|
1891 Census |
Ref Q 942 X 22s |
vols. 1-24 (lt. blue) |
C. Remove the volume containing the city of
interest from the shelf and locate the city.
D. Find the street of interest and copy
down the complete reference number listed for each street. For the 1851
Census, a "Bundle" number will be indicated. Be sure to always write
down the enumeration district.
E. Turn to the conversion chart found on
the first page of the index for the relevant district. Although there are some
variations in format for this page from census to census, the information given
is the same. By using the reference numbers you copied down in step 3, you will
be able to locate the film or fiche number with the actual census records.
Examples:
|
CENSUS RETURNS 1851. Street, etc. Bundle
No. Lee Street 2208. 4.
3. "
" 2209. 1.
7. "
Watsons 2206.
2. 3. Legs Yard 2210.
1. 2. Leigh Common 2207. 1. 4. "
Street 2209. 1. 3. Lever Bank 2211. 4. 6.0 |
|
1881 CENSUS -48- |
|
KENSINGTON. Continued: Street Enumeration Supt. Registrar's Sub- District District District Tabernacle Terrace 1 3J 30 Talbot Grove 1 3N 38 Talbot Mews 1 3N 38 " " 1 1M 35 " " 1 1M 36 " " 1 1M 38 " " 1 3O 41 Tarrington Mews 1
2B 9a " " 1 2B 9b Tavistock Crescent 1 1L 32 |
|
|
F. Locate the film. At the beginning of
each section of census pages, there is a description page. It gives the
enumeration district you copied down in step 3.
Things to Remember
1.
To be able to find a census film number for an address in
2.
The census records include a description page which usually lists the
streets that are covered in that particular part of the census (each part is
called an enumeration district). On the top right-hand corner of each
description page is a space to write in the number of the enumeration district.
This was done by those who compiled the census. The enumeration district
numbers are given in the 1841, 1861, 1871, 1881, and 1891 Street Indexes. There
are sometimes two sets of district numbers, and you need to look at both to
determine which is the one you really need (by trial &
error).
3.
Many of the individually published census surname indexes are for the
1851 census. 1851 indexes often give only the PRO bundle number and page
number. To find the film number, you need to use the A1851 Census@ piece number book or the 1851
population tables.
4.
The indexes call for page numbers. In a few cases, uninformed volunteers
entered the Apage number@ for the enumeration district rather than the folio number for the
district. In other cases, volunteers used the page with the number and the one
before it as being that page, while others used the page with the number and
the one after it as being that page. Look either side of the referenced page
and don=t give up easily.
5.
Even surname-only indexes can impart information that might be helpful
on geographic distribution of the surname. For example, the MANN example given
in this handout would indicate a family group or concentration in the area of
the county on pages 338-341. Unless there are simply too many of that surname,
you should look at every instance of a surname in the index even if you have
already found your family--this often turns up other relatives.