For further links, see our BMD and Getting Started pages
Census Returns
Free Searches
Census data can be searched on microfilm or microfiche at local libraries and
LDS Church Family History Centres.
The National Archives of Ireland has now put online 1911 census returns for all thirty two Irish counties. It is FREE to search and FREE to download images of census returns. The 1901 returns will be available by early 2010.
Chargeable Searches
Several sites have census returns available either by subscription or on a "pay per view" basis. Many allow free index searches , but this does not generally give access to household transcripts or images of census returns. We describe here only those we have used ourselves.
The Ancestry UK & Ireland Collection includes census returns for England and Wales from 1841 to 1901.
English Origins - part of
The Origins Network - has indexed and put online 1841, 1861 and 1871 census returns for counties in England and Wales together with 1861 and 1871 returns for Scotland.
The complete set of census returns from 1841 to 1911 for England and Wales is now available online from
findmypast.com by subscription or "pay per view". There is a FREE index search - including occupation.
1911 Census
This long awaited census can be viewed on the
1911 census website. Searches are free, but access to transcripts and images is currently only by "pay per view". Credits can be purchased from the 1911 census website or from findmypast.com and can also be used to access other records on the findmypast.com website. Coverage of England and Wales is now complete with the addition of Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the Royal Navy, those aboard on Merchant Navy vessels in port at home or abroad, and Army personnel and their families in military establishments overseas.
The 1911 Census is now available on subscription from findmypast.com at a cost of £59.95 for 12 months or £39.95 for six months.