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1831
"Census Returns" for Co. Londonderry
Unlike
Great Britain, where detailed Census Enumerators'
Returns are available from 1841, virtually none exist
for Ireland before 1901. However, in county Londonderry
we have a unique source which, although not a "proper
census", contains data that are useful to Family
and Local Historians. I was introduced to the 1831
" Census Returns" in 1967 - read
more in this Background Paper.
1831
"Census Returns" Database for Co. Londonderry.
To
access my revised 1831 "Census" Database
for the entire County of Londonderry - click on
the links in the table below. If you are not familiar
with databases you might find Notes
on the 1831 "Census Returns" Database useful.
The
Excel database is primarily sorted by Barony,
Parish and Townland. The names of each head of household
within each townland are sorted by House Nos. - not
alphabetically - as they were in my earlier databases.
For those of you who do not have access to Excel I
have included two PDF files. PDF1 is
a duplicate of the Excel file and PDF2 provides
an index of names sorted by Standardised Surname,
Barony, Parish & Townland. Unfortunately, any
search of a PDF copy of a database is more limited.
Note
that the 1901/1911
Census of Ireland now have Census fragments and
substitutes for the period 1821-51. The pages in the
1831 "Census" are now available online in
the National Archives of Ireland and can be searched.
This means that you can check the names and places,
etc. in my databases with those in the pages in the
National Archives of Ireland.
Working
with 1831 "Census Returns" at Townland and
Street Level.
Since
1967/68 I have studied many Localities within the
County - probably around twenty Townlands in Rural
Areas and a number of Streets in Derry/Londonderry,
Coleraine, Limavady and Magherafelt. These Locality
Studies have also generated associated Studies of
Families.
In
order to highlight the important role that the 1831
"Census Returns" often play in a Locality
Study or a Family History Study, I have selected the
Townland of Gorteade - Church Street in the Town of
Coleraine - and William Street in the City of Londonderry.
Note
that the 1831 Census data are now available in the
Census of Ireland 1901/1911 and Census fragments and
substitutes, 1821-51. It is worth comparing the data
in my 1831 Database with the 1831 fragment for Co.
Londonderry.
Copyright 2020 W.Macafee
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