The only complete Irish census returns that are currently available for research are those of 1901 and 1911. These are usually a switch-off for members of the Irish diaspora whose ancestors left Ireland in the early to mid 1800s. However, there is absolutely no need to switch-off if you fall into that category. Just because one of your Irish ancestors left Ireland in that period doesn’t mean close family members of that ancestor did not remain in Ireland.

One of the most useful Irish census substitutes is the wonderful land and property record known as Griffith’s Valuation which was published for the entire island of Ireland between 1847 and 1864, and at a different date for each location. Griffith’s includes occupiers or tenants, as well as owners of property, and therefore is a most useful aid in determining where your ancestor may have been born. It is possible to access Griffith’s Valuation on www.AskAboutIreland.com for free. Once you have identified your ancestral homeland from Griffith’s, it can then be useful to view the 1901 and 1911 census returns to check and see if family members still lived in the area in those years.

The 1901 and 1911 census returns are now available free-of-charge on the web-site of the National Archives of Ireland – www.Census.NationalArchives.ie.

So, what kind of information can one get from the 1901 and 1911 census returns?

Both census returns provide the name and age of the Head of Family, the name and age of the spouse, and names and ages of their children. Any other individuals who are present in the household on the night of the census are also recorded in the family return. Additional information includes, religious profession, education, rank, profession or occupation, marital status, county of birth, and whether or not each individual speaks Irish (Gaelic) in addition to English.

The 1911 census return has three additional useful columns which asks the married woman how long the present marriage has lasted, how many children were born alive, and how many were still living.

The marriage question on the 1911 census return is particularly useful, as it leads one to search for the civil or church record of marriage for the couple. Civil records of marriage in that period provide names of fathers of bride and groom, and their respective occupations. In turn, this information may then encourage members of the Irish diaspora to continue the paper trail for the family documented in the 1911 census return and thus perhaps make the connection with their own immigrant ancestor.