The Early English Censuses (review)

Ever since England began collecting decennial census data in 1801, the results have been used as a source for historians and demographers. But, as with other early national census undertakings, the results of the early censuses have errors, methodological inconsistencies, and conceptual incomparabilities that have impeded systematic use, particularly for sophisticated demographic and times-series analysis. The Early English Censuses, initially conceived as a secondary by-product of other research projects on English social and economic history, solves these problems by reconciling geographical boundaries, correcting errors, estimating census omissions, and reporting consistent local-area-population tabulations by sex for the English censuses from 1801 to 1851. In so doing, the volume is a major contribution to English social and demographic history.

The book and accompanying cd rom include both technical descriptions of the procedures used to create the local-area-population tabulations, and the tabulations themselves. The most detailed tabulations—for example, by parish—are on the cd rom. The book also includes explanations of the census procedures used for the six censuses, description of the local geographical classifications for England during the period, a chapter and technical discussion extending the population totals by county back to 1600, as well as for hundreds (county subdivisions) back to 1761, and a chapter describing the procedures for reconciling changes in tabulation geography between 1801 and 1851.

The censuses from 1801 to 1831 were household counts, based upon then existing local geographical divisions—namely, the parish (and sometimes its subdivisions), hundred (or equivalent), and county. The 1841 census introduced the household schedule listing each person by name. In 1851, the census revamped local area geography. The parish remained, but larger units became the registration county, registration district, and registration subdistrict. The early censuses also under-reported infants and men in the military or merchant marine. The project has reconciled the geography for both systems of local areas, and it reports tables for all six censuses in both systems (ancient and modern). There are two sets of tables for each system. The first set of tables for each system of geography reports the original results of the census, including measures of area, only corrected for arithmetic and printing errors. The second set for each system corrects under-reporting as well.

These data provide the raw material that will benefit from analysis using geographical information systems (gis). The final chapter of the book, written with Max Satchel, provides technical discussion of the gis issues, and four gorgeous color maps in the volume indicate the possibilities for further research and analysis. The relevant digitized base maps and metadata are in the UK Data Archive.

The volume also contains dense and highly informative discussions of the work and perspectives of the original census officials, particularly John Rickman. This book will be an essential reference resource for historical demographers and geographers, English local historians, and anyone interested in the technical history of census taking and population change.