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England and Wales, Census, 1851

This collection contains the records of the census taken in England and Wales in the year 1851. The images and index are provided by FindMyPast.com

Record Type: Census
18,357,779 Records
18,773,100 Personas
1,174,633 Images
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England and Wales, Census, 1851

Source: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/England_and_Wales,_Census,_1851_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records

What is in This Collection?

This collection includes records for 1851. The United Kingdom Census of 1851 recorded the people residing in every household on the night of Sunday, March 30, 1851, and was the second of the UK censuses to include details of household members. However, this census added considerably to the fields recorded in the earlier 1841 UK Census, providing additional details of ages, relationships and origins, making the 1851 census a rich source of information.

The schedules are arranged by county and then divided by civil parish, each district being an area that could be enumerated in a day. For reference purposes, the National Archives assigned a piece number to each enumeration district and stamped a folio number in the upper right corner of each right-side page. The number refers to entries on both sides of the page. The original schedules are well preserved and housed at the Public Records Office in Kew.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information be be found in these records:

  • Date, place, district, parish and county where census was taken
  • Given names and surnames for members in each household
  • Age, gender and birthplace for each household member
  • Marital status and occupation for each household member
  • Relationship to the head of the household for each household member

Collection Content

Sample of an indexed record

John Smith England and Wales, Census, 1851
Name John Smith
Event Type Census
Event Date 1851
Event Place Maulden, Bedfordshire, England
Registration District Ampthill
Gender Male
Age 18
Marital Status Unmarried
Occupation Labourer At Home
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Birth Year (Estimated) 1833
Birthplace Maulden, Bedfordshire
Page Number 16
Registration Number HO107
Piece/Folio 1754 / 297
Affiliate Record Type Household
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
William Smith Head Male 44 Maulden, Befordshire
Marria Smith Wife Female 47 Rinham, Norfolk
Elizabeth Smith Daughter Female 21 Maulden, Bedfordshire
James Smith Son Male 20 Maulden, Bedfordshire
John Smith Son Male 18 Maulden, Bedfordshire
William Smith Son Male 13 Maulden, Bedfordshire
George Smith Son Male 10 Maulden, Bedfordshire

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • Name of the person you are looking for
  • Approximate place of residence

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches
Tip: More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at England and Wales Census, 1851. Click on camera icon to see images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • Look at an image of the original record. The original may contain information that was not recorded in the index
  • Use the information to find additional family members in other censuses
  • Use the information to find other records such as birth, marriage, christening, and death records
  • Birthplaces can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

  • If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This can help you find possible relatives
  • If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
  • Check for other names. They might have been listed under a middle name, a nickname, or an abbreviation of their given name
  • Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try searching based on how the name may have been pronounced

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in England.

The following articles will help you research your family in Wales.

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

Source information

Location of Original Records

The National Archives

Cite This Collection

"England and Wales, Census, 1851." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 23 September 2025. From "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census." Database and images. findmypast. http://www.findmypast.com : n.d. Citing PRO HO 107. The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

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