INTRODUCTION. 
THE Census of the United Kingdom in 1871 was taken under the provisions of three separate Acts of 
Parliament passed in the Session of 1870. ln England and Scotland the duty of taking the Census 
was entrusted, as in 1861, to the English and Scotch Registrars-General ; in Ireland to a Royal Com- 
mission, presided over by the Irish Registrar-General. 
It may be well to record here, that during the progress of these measures the “ trouble and incon- 
venience which arose from having three separate Census Bills for the different parts of the United 
Kingdom” were referred to in the House of Commons, and hopes were expressed that when the Census of 
1881 was taken, a single Act for the United Kingdom would be passed, so as to secure uniformity both 
nf procedure and of results. 
The scope of this present publication does not comprehend an exposition of the facts relating to 
Scotland and Ireland, except in so far as is necessary to present a summary view of the movement of 
population in the Kingdom as a whole. 
And before proceeding to deal with the English Census of 1871, it will be convenient to give a brief 
retrospect of former inquiries of a like nature in this country. 
CENSUSES 1801-1861. 
The first Census was taken in 1801, under the superintendence of Mr. Rickman. It showed the 
number of persons (distinguishing the sexes) in the various Counties, Hundreds, and Parishes of Great 
Britain ; the number of Houses and of the Families by which they were occupied ; and a rough statement 
of the occupations of the people, under three classes, viz., (1) “ Persons chiefly employed in agriculture,’ 
(2) “ Persons chiefly employed in trade, manufactures, or handicraft,” and (3) “ All other persons not 
comprised in the two preceding classes.” It also included an abstract of the Parish Registers from returns 
made by the Clergy, giving in each Hundred, or Wapentake, &c., of England and Wales, the number of 
Baptisms and Burials at every tenth year from 1700 to 1780 and in each vear afterwards, and the 
number of Marriages in every year since 1753. 
The Census of 1811 was taken upon the same plan as that adopted in 1801, and the same particulars 
of information were given; the only difference being, that in 1811 the number of Families occupied in 
the three above-mentioned classes was shown, instead of the number of Persons, as in 1801; and in 
1811, the number of Houses building was shown separately from the number of other uninhabited Houses. 
In 1821, information was for the first time attempted to be supplied respecting the Ages of the popula- 
lion, giving the numbers in quinquennial periods up to the age 20, and thence in decennial periods ; 
but as it was left optional, both to the Census Officers and to the parties themselves, how far the investiga- 
ion should be pursued, the return upon this point proved, to a considerable extent, deficient and 
ansatisfactory. In other respects the particulars inquired into at this Census were precisely the same as 
n 1811, 
The Census of 1831 embraced several additional particulars, principally in elucidation of the various 
lasses into which the people are divided by their different occupations. While the classification of 1811 
ind 1821 was still retained, a further subdivision of the classes was made, as to the male population of 
20 years of age and upwards. In the printed Abstract of Returns was given, at the end of each 
County, a detailed list of the particular trades or handicrafts included in the 3rd of the above classes, and 
the number of persons employed in each. The inquiry as to the ages of the population was not repeated 
n 1831 beyond the distinction of males above and under 20. The area of each parish and township was 
siven for the first time, being the result of a computation made by Mr. Rickman from maps, 
At the Census of 1841 several alterations and additions were introduced. The number of Families 
¥as not given. and the statement as to occupations was not made, as before, for each Parish. nor was