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Dorset 1891 Census

• Transcription and conventions used
• Coverage
• Checking
• Grouping
• Abbreviations and codes
• Contact details
• How to buy
• Copyright

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Transcription and conventions used

This census database records 194,481 individuals in 41,627 households from the 1891 Census Returns for Dorset.

The data records include:

• Forenames - as enumerated.
• Surname - as enumerated.
• Relationship to head of household, abbreviated to two letters.
• Status - M Married, U Unmarried, WD Widow or WR Widower.
• Age in years, m indicates months, d indicates days, w indicates weeks.
• Occupation - as enumerated.
• Parish and County where born, if given.
• Parish where enumerated.
• Piece Number - refers to filmed batch of enumerators' books within the RG12/ classification by the National Archives, London. (Reference used by all archives holding these films).
• Folio number - refers to number stamped in top-right hand corner of page in enumerator's book and unstamped back of that page.
• Page number - number of page within census enumerator's book: there are normally several census enumerators' books in one piece.

Coverage

The following table lists the places in Dorset and neighbouring counties and the number of records for each place, together with the piece number in the Public Record Office class RG12.

Checking

The data has been checked.

Grouping

The records have been grouped using the head of household. In some cases, this may give misleading results where the head is away from home that night (e.g. some coastguards). There are 260 groups where there appears to be more than one wife following a head of household. Large institutions, such as army barracks, are treated as one household and you may find it more cost-effective to buy the CD-ROM if you really need to know the other members of the institution.

Additionally, the age and birthplace have been used to create additional index entries.

Abbreviations and Codes

Abbreviations used in the Age column of the index: h = hours; d = days; w = weeks; m=months; y = years.

Chapman County Codes have been used for the county where born e.g. SOM = Somerset, DOR = Dorset, HAM = Hampshire.

Abbreviations have been used for the relationship to the head of the household as follows:

How to buy

This information is also available on CD-ROM (for MS-Windows) and microfiche from the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society, web site http://www.sdfhs.org and the Dorset Family History Society, web site www.dorsetfhs.freeserve.co.uk.

Contact details

Dorset Family History Society, web site www.dorsetfhs.freeserve.co.uk. and the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society. Web: http://www.sdfhs.org

Copyright and disclaimer

© Trustees of the Dorset Family History Society and the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society. The Census is Crown Copyright and the information from the Census is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO).

Every care has been taken in the preparation of this Index. However, users are advised to view images of the original census returns (microform, CD) for additional information and to confirm for themselves interpretation of the records.

The Somerset and Dorset Family History Society accepts no liability for any errors or omissions that remain (although they would welcome notification of alternative interpretations after the searcher has viewed the census).

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