Email: Password (case-sensitive): Forgotten Password Create Login Home Page What's New Getting Started Census Info Parish Records Transcription Samples Matching Service Districts How to Search How to Purchase Prices Books Research Services Coming Attractions Links Policies / Security About Us History Library Occupations (statistics & searches) Common Questions Help Join Mailing List Bookmark this Site Recommend This Site	What's In Each Census? What Each District Contains Piece, Folio, and Page Numbers Communities Covered Understanding Your Results Problems with Specific Censuses Sample Transcriptions What's In Each Census? Year Night of Information Given How Many Names Do We Have? 1841 June 6/7 Dwelling, Name, Age, Occupation, Born in county or not; if an employer, how many employees 306,147 1851 March 30/31 Dwelling, Name, Age, Relation to Head, Marital Status, Occupation, Birthplace (town/parish & county) 329,213 1861 April 7/8 same as 1851 232,033 1871 April 2/3 same as 1851 293,931 1881 April 3/4 same as 1851 111,916 1891 April 5/6 same as 1851 227,903 1901 Mar 31/Apr 1 same as 1851 50,682 Communities Covered Our collection includes census transcriptions for the following communities and years. Please check back often, as we are adding new data weekly. Location Years Location Years Aislaby 1841-1851 Archdeacon Newton 1841-1851 Auckland St. Andrew 1841-1871 Auckland St. Helen 1841-1871 Barmpton 1841-1851 Barmston 1841-1871, 1891 Barnard Castle 1841-1851, 1871 Benfieldside 1841-1871 Bill Quay 1841 Billingham 1841-1851 Billingside 1841-1871 Billy Row 1841-1871 Binchester 1841-1871 Birtley 1841-1871, 1891 Bishop Auckland 1841-1871 Bishop Middleham 1841-1891 Bishopley 1841-1871 Bishopton 1841-1851 Bishopwearmouth 1841-1851, 1861 (piece 3765 only) Blackwell 1841-1851 Bolam 1841-1871 Boldon 1841-1871, 1891 Bournmoor 1841-1891 Bowburn 1841-1871, 1891 Bradbury 1841-1891 Brafferton 1841-1851 Brancepeth 1841-1871, 1891 Brandon & Byshottles 1841-1871, 1891 Brierton 1841-1851 Broom 1841-1871, 1891 Burdon 1841-1891 Burnhope 1841-1871 Butsfield 1841-1871 Butterwick 1841-1891 Byers Green 1841-1871 Carlbury 1841-1851 Carlton 1841-1851 Cassop 1841-1891 Castle Eden 1841-1901 Chester-le-Street 1841-1871, 1891 Chilton 1841-1891 Chopwell 1841 Claxton 1841-1851 Cleadon 1841-1871, 1891 Cleatlam 1841-1851, 1871 Coatham Mundeville 1841-1851 Coatsay Moor 1841-1851 Cocken 1841-1891 Cockerton 1841-1851 Cockfield 1841-1851, 1871 Cold Hesledon 1841-1901 Collierley 1841-1871 Consett 1841-1871 Conside 1841-1871 Cornforth 1841-1891 Cornsay 1841-1871 Coundon 1841-1871 Coundon Grange 1841-1871 Cowpen Bewley 1841-1851 Coxhoe 1841-1891 Crawcrook 1841 Crook 1841-1871 Dalton Piercy 1841-1891 Dalton-le-Dale 1841-1901 Darlington 1841-1851 Deaf Hill 1841-1901 Denton 1841-1851 Dinsdale 1841-1851 Dipton 1841-1871 Durham City 1841, 1851 (partial), 1861 Easington 1841-1901 Easington Lane 1841-1891 East Hartburn 1841-1851 East Hetton 1841-1891 East Thickley 1841-1871 Ebchester 1841-1871 Edmondsley 1841-1871, 1891 Edmundbyers 1841-1871 Egglescliffe 1841-1851 Egglestone 1841-1851, 1871 Eldon 1841-1871 Elstob 1841-1891 Elton 1841-1851 Elwick 1841-1891 Elwick Hall 1841-1891 Embleton 1841-1891 Eppleton 1841-1891 Escomb 1841-1871 Esh 1841-1871 Evenwood 1841-1871 Fatfield 1841-1871, 1891 Felling 1841 Ferryhill 1841-1871, 1891 Fishburn 1841-1891 Ford 1841-1851 Forest & Frith 1841-1851, 1871 Foxton & Shotton 1841-1891 Framwellgate [Rural] 1841-1871, 1891 Frosterley 1841-1871 Fulwell 1841-1871, 1891 Gainford 1841-1851, 1871 Garmondsway Moor 1841-1891 Gateshead 1841 Great Aycliffe 1841-1851 Great Burdon 1841-1851 Greatham 1841-1851 Greencroft 1841 Grindon 1841-1851 Hamsteels 1841-1871 Hamsterley 1841-1871 Harraton 1841-1871, 1891 Hart 1841-1891 Hartlepool 1841-1851 Harton 1841-1871, 1891 Haswell 1841-1901 Haughton-le-Skerne 1841-1851 Hawthorn 1841-1901 Headlam 1841-1851, 1871 Healyfield 1841-1871 Hebburn 1841 Hedley 1841-1871, 1891 Hedleyhope 1841-1851, 1871 Hedworth 1841 Heighington 1841-1851 Helmington Row 1841-1871 Herrington 1841-1891 Hett 1841-1871, 1891 Hetton-le-Hole 1841-1891 Heworth 1841 High Coniscliffe 1841-1851 Hilton (in Teesdale) 1841-1851, 1871 Holmside 1841-1871 Houghton-le-Side 1841-1851 Houghton-le-Spring 1841-1891 Hulam 1841-1901 Hunstanworth 1841-1871 Hunwick & Helmington 1841-1871 Hurworth-on-Tees 1841-1851 Hutton Henry 1841-1901 Hylton (North) 1841-1871, 1891 Ingleton 1841-1851, 1871 Iveston 1841-1871 Jarrow 1841 Kelloe 1841-1891 + 1901 Kelloe Town Kibblesworth 1841-1871, 1891 Killerby 1841-1851 Kimblesworth 1841-1871, 1891 Knitsley 1841-1871 Kyo 1841-1871 Lambton 1841-1891 Lamesley 1841-1871, 1891 Lanchester 1841-1871 Langley 1841-1871 Langleydale & Shotton 1841-1851, 1871 Langton 1841-1851, 1871 Leadgate 1841-1871 Littletown 1841-1891 Long Newton 1841-1851 Low Coniscliffe 1841-1851 Ludworth 1841-1891 Lumley 1841-1891 Lynesack & Softley 1841-1871 Mainsforth 1841-1891 Marwood 1841-1851, 1871 Medomsley 1841-1871 Merrington 1841-1871 Middlestone 1841-1871 Middleton Saint George 1841-1851 Middleton-in-Teesdale 1841-1851, 1871 Middridge 1841-1871 Middridge Grange 1841-1871 Monk Hesleden 1841-1901 Monkton 1841 Monkwearmouth 1841-1851 Moorhouse 1841-1891 Moorsley 1841-1891 Morden 1841-1891 Morton Grange 1841-1891 Morton Palms 1841-1851 Morton Tinmouth 1841-1851, 1871 Muggleswick 1841 Murton 1841-1901 Neasham 1841-1851 Nesbitt 1841-1901 Newbiggin (Stockton) 1841-1851 Newbiggin (Teesdale) 1841-1851, 1871 Newbottle 1841-1891 Newfield 1841-1871 Newlandside 1841-1871 Newsham 1841-1851 Newton Bewley 1841-1851 Newton Cap 1841-1871 North Bedburn 1841-1871 North Biddick 1841-1871, 1891 Norton 1841-1851 Offerton 1841-1891 Old Park 1841-1871 Ouston 1841-1871, 1891 Pelton 1841-1871, 1891 Penshaw 1841-1891 Piercebridge 1841-1851 Pittington 1841-1891 Plawsworth 1841-1871, 1891 Pollard's Lands 1841-1871 Pontop 1841-1871 Preston-le-Skerne 1841-1891 Preston-on-Tees 1841-1851 Quarrington Hill 1841-1891 Raby & Keverstone 1841-1851, 1871 Rainton 1841-1891 Ravensworth 1841-1871, 1891 Redmarshall 1841-1851 Redworth 1841-1851 Ryhope 1841-1891 Ryton 1841 Ryton Woodside 1841 Sacriston 1841-1871, 1891 Sadberge 1841-1851 Satley 1841-1871 School Aycliffe 1841-1851 Seaham 1841-1901 Seaham Colliery 1841-1901 Seaham Harbour & Vessels in Port 1841-1901 Seaton Carew 1841-1851 Seaton with Slingley 1841-1901 Sedgefield 1841-1891 Shadforth 1841-1891 Sheraton 1841-1901 Sherburn 1841-1891 Sherburn House 1841-1891 Shildon 1841-1871 Shincliffe 1841-1891 Shotton 1841-1901 Silksworth (Old) 1841-1891 Sockburn 1841-1851 South Bedburn 1841-1871 South Biddick 1841-1891 South Hetton 1841-1901 South Hylton 1841-1851 South Shields 1841, part of 1851 South Wingate 1841-1901 Southwick 1841-1851 Spennymoor 1841-1871 Staindrop 1841-1851, 1871 Stainton & Streatlam 1841-1851, 1871 Stainton (Great & Little) 1841-1851 Stanhope (incl. Forest & Park) 1841-1871 Stella 1841 Stillington 1841-1891 Stockley 1841-1871, 1891 Stockton 1841, 1851 Stranton 1841-1851 Summerhouse 1841-1851 Sunderland 1841-1851 Sunderland Bridge 1841-1891 Tanfield 1841-1871 Thornley 1841-1901 Thorpe Bulmer 1841-1891 Thorpe Thewlis 1841-1851 Thrislington 1841-1891 Throston 1841-1851 Tow Law 1841-1871 Trimdon 1841-1891 Trimdon Grange & Foundry 1841-1901 Tudhoe 1841-1871, 1891 Tunstall (New Silksworth) 1841-1891 Urpeth 1841-1871, 1891 Usworth 1841-1871, 1891 Wackerfield 1841-1851, 1871 Waldridge 1841-1871, 1891 Walworth 1841-1851 Wapping 1841-1891 Warden Law 1841-1891 Washington 1841-1871, 1891 West Auckland 1841-1871 Westerton 1841-1871 Westoe 1841-1851 Westwick 1841-1851, 1871 Wheatley Hill 1841-1901 Whessoe 1841-1851 Whickham 1841 Whitburn 1841-1871, 1891 Whitton 1841-1851 Whitwell 1841-1891 Whitwell House 1841-1891 Whitworth 1841-1871 Whorlton 1841-1851, 1871 Willington 1841-1871, 1891 Windlestone 1841-1871 Windy Nook 1841 Wingate 1841-1901 Winlaton 1841 Winston 1841-1851, 1871 Witton Gilbert 1841-1871, 1891 Witton-le-Wear 1841-1871 Wolsingham 1841-1871 Wolviston 1841-1851 Woodham 1841-1851 Woodland 1841-1851, 1871

Understanding Your Results

Birthplaces in 1841: Y, N, and N(x)

• Y = born in County Durham
  
• N = not born in County Durham, but born in England or Wales
  
• N(S) = Scotland
  
• N(I) = Ireland
  
• N(F) = Foreign
• sometimes the birthplace county/country is written out, as in "N (Scotland)"

In the 1841 census, we usually only record birthplace for people NOT born in County Durham. Sometimes we include the "Y" for clarity, as in cases where most of a family was "N" but one person was "Y". You may assume any person with no birthplace listed was recorded as "Y", born in County Durham..

Birthplaces in 1851 or later: We have corrected various birthplace name spellings to make them more recognizable. For example, we change "Pensher" and "Painshaw" to "Penshaw". If we're not sure if a name is an alternate spelling vs. a separate place, we don't change it; we put our guess at what it might be in square brackets next to the original spelling. Also, we have added birth counties for some obvious birthplaces that were originally missing counties. For example, the enumerator often wrote simply "Newcastle upon Tyne" or "Berwick on Tweed", with no county shown because to him, it was obvious which county they were in. For cases like this, we have added "Northumberland" to the county column for search purposes.

NB or Note - Some census entries contain extra notes from our transcribers, including notes on the history of a place or person. Such notes are in square brackets and start with NB or Note.

[] or / (slash) in names - Names in square brackets (with multiple names separated by slashes) denote alternate spellings of a common name, or, if a name was illegible, our other "best guesses" at what the name was. The first name in the string is the name that appeared in the record, or our best guess at it. For example: Randyll [Randall] means the person was recorded as Randyll, but Randall is a common alternate spelling, which we include here so it will be picked up by the search engine when you type "Randall". An entry like Primp [Pump/Pamp] means it looks like Primp, but may be Pump or Pamp.

Blank fields: If there is no occupation listed, the Occupation column was blank in the census. If there is no marital status listed, the person was listed as unmarried OR the field was blank, which many enumerators used to mean "unmarried". Sometimes we include the word "unmarried" for clarity. If a relationship or birthplace or age was blank in the census, we show that with [relationship blank], [age blank], or [birthplace blank]. You will also see [surname blank] or [given name blank] for those cases where a name was blank.

do or ditto - Censustakers used this to mean "same as above". They used it often for surnames and birthplaces. To facilitate searching, we have replaced "do" in the surname field with the surname directly above, and likewise have replaced "do" in the birthplace column with the birthplace listed directly above. We realise that enumerators made errors and sometimes wrote "do" for a birthplace or surname in error, and we are compounding that error by stating the birthplace or surname to be a specific name, but this was necessary to provide the ability to search on surnames and birthplaces.

A note about addresses: In the earlier censuses, most houses did not have numbers. Any number shown is typically not an address but an enumerator's number. For example, 4 California Row was not necessarily #4, California Row, but rather the 4th house he visited on California Row.

Why are there errors in the census?: There were many opportunities for error in a census. First, the person answering the census questions was quite likely to be a child, as the child might be the only person in the house who could read and write. The child, however, did not necessarily know the correct answers or correctly understand the answer given to him or her orally by the parents or did not know how to spell the birthplaces they quoted to him. Next, did you know that the census images available to us today are actually transcriptions made by the enumerator from "schedules" filled out by somebody in the household? If the enumerator did not correctly read the schedule filled out by the householder, another error develops. Also, when the enumerator was copying from the schedules to his enumerator's book, he might skip a line and miss somebody. (We suggest you visit BritishGenealogy.com, which provides an excellent description of how the census was taken, why the census images available today are actually transcriptions, and how to reference a piece/folio.) Lastly, of course, we are offering transcriptions, and if we could not read the enumerator's handwriting because it was poor, the ink had faded, or the page had been damaged, then we may also introduce errors. For all these reasons it is important to compare the results of a census to all other available records for continuity.

Sample Transcriptions

Dalton-le-Dale - 1841 Census.
Hugh Jakes or Jacques, 25, Joiner
Ann Jakes or Jacques, 25, Not born in County Durham [Scotland]
Edward Jakes or Jacques, 2
George Jakes or Jacques, 3 days
Ann Ibbetson or Ibbertson, 15, Female Servant

Aside from Ann Jakes, the rest of the family was born in County Durham.

Dalton-le-Dale Village - 1851 Census -Times Inn
Jane Randyll [Randall], Head, widow, 45, Publican, Stanhope
Sarah Ann R, daughter, 22, Stockton
Catherine R, daughter, 19, Stockton
Isabella R, daughter,16, Stockton

In the 1851 example, the name [Randall] in square brackets represents an alternate spelling of the name. We insert this so our search engine will turn up odd spellings of common names i.e. if you search for Randall, you will also get any entries for Randyll, Randell, etc. that list Randall as an alternate spelling. All of our insertions are marked in square brackets so you can distinguish them from the original census information.

1861 Census - Tudhoe, Tudhoe Ironworks - 12 High Row
Joseph Wanless, Head of Household, Married, 27, Ironworks Stocktaker, Chester-le-Street
Mary Wanless, Wife, Married, 23, Hylton
Joseph W. Wanless, Son, 4, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Elizabeth A. Wanless, Daughter, 1, Spennymoor
Ann Robbins [Robinson/Dobbins (?)], Sister-in-law, 20, Hylton
John Dunn, Lodger, 24, Ironworks Labourer, Houghton-le-Spring
Patrick Reed, Lodger, 19, Ironworks Labourer, Carlisle, Cumberland

In this 1861 census example, the surname of the sister-in-law was unclear, so we have included several possibilities in brackets. The earlier the census, the more varied the spelling of names was, and coupled with unclear handwriting and fading over time, reading a name today can be difficult.

Note that the term "in-law" could mean "step" in today's language, and people raising their grandchildren might call them their children. Also, such terms might relative to the person answering the questions rather than to the head-of-household - for example, a wife might say her husband's brother was a brother-in-law, even though the census was supposed to record the relationship to the head-of-household. To resolve such questions, pay attention to relative ages and the likelihood that a person is related as stated, and get birth certificates to verify parentage rather than relying just on the census.

Birthplaces in the 1851 and later censuses should be assumed to be in County Durham unless otherwise specified, but there are a few exceptions. Certain major cities, such as Newcastle-upon-Tyne or London, were often recorded without a county specified. In most cases, we have left these alone; in some censuses we have added "Northumberland" to birthplaces we know to be in Northumberland.

Problems with Specific Censuses

• 1841: Most of Preston-le-Skerne had faded before it was microfilmed, so only a few fragments were filmed & readable.
  • Winlaton: In HO107/302/7, pages 13 and 14 (between folios 9 and 10) were skipped when the folio numbers were stamped on the pages and were not filmed by the PRO. We transcribed the missing 50 people from the original census book at the PRO and gave these entries the folio number of the prior folio, which was 9.
• 1851: East Rainton (very faded), Witton Gilbert & Sacriston (about 27 sheets in Sacriston unreadable, with many more very faded and difficult to read on either positive or negative microfilm; 5 sheets of Edmondsley too faint to read), 20+ folios of Eighton Banks (very faint), Hetton-le-Hole with Easington Lane (very faint), town of Chester-le-Street (very faded). In Wingate Colliery and Little Lumley, the enumerator listed only birth counties, not towns.
• 1861: Easington, Chester-le-Street Township (sheets were apparently stuck together & then damaged when separated & photographed; what remains has difficult handwriting), Middridge Grange is missing, last 3 sheets of East Thickley are missing, part of Usworth Colliery Village is very faded (High Row, New Row, Nailors Shops, Waggon Row), part of Biddick Row in North Biddick village was blurred. The entire census of Hedleyhope (Lanchester district) and the last 2 pages of Cornsay are missing from the PRO, so unavailable to us. Last page of Tanfield is torn away, so 23 people are missing and 20 have incomplete information (no birthplaces, and some have no ages or occupations).
• 1881: The last four sheets for Bishop Middleham were very badly damaged and torn before they were microfilmed. All that survives are four half sheets which do not match up with each other. We have extracted what little info we could.
• 1891: Dalton-le-Dale: The enumerator tallied his figures by crossing through the ages of the people entered, so their ages are difficult to read and in some cases it has been necessary to make a guess. This is also true in Cold Hesledon, to an even worse degree.
• 1841-1891: Cox Green was included in the enumeration of West Herrington, but we have called it part of Penshaw because it is technically part of Penshaw as far as we know.

Piece, Folio, and Page References