Created by Julie Goucher, 2021 using Wordscloud

As we sit to search for our family members on the various census it can be quite easy to scroll through, not looking at anything but the surnames, but at the beginning of the Census for each location there is a description box, such as this one shown below. As they go, the description of the village of Puttenham is significantly on the light side, and that very much depends on the enumerator of the day.

Puttenham Census 1841 – Surrey History Centre SRY HO107/1073/8

The image you can see below is from the 1841 Census for the village of Puttenham in Surrey. It details my great, great, great Grandparents – George Ellis and Prudence Budd.

Puttenham Census 1841 – Surrey History Centre SRY HO107/1073/8

As you can see, the data recorded (from left to right) is:

• Place – in this case it is recorded as “the street”
• Houses – this is either uninhabited or a building, or the second option is inhabited which this one is
• Names of those who were inhabiting the property on the night of the census
  • George Ellis
  • Prudence Ellis
  • George Ellis
  • Harriott Ellis
  • Frederick Ellis
• Age and sex (gender) – the age was a rounded number, so 14 was rounded to 15, but in this instance, the enumerator provided the “accurate” age – what he was told, which may or may not be accurate.
• Profession, or trade – in this case, George is described as an “ag lab”
• Where born – in county or Scotland, Ireland or foreign parts. In this case, George Ellis is recorded as being born outside of the Country of Surrey.

Whilst the 1841 Census is limited in data, it is the first time we see family groups recorded by household. Tomorrow, we look at the 1851 Census and follow George, Prudence and their family.