Genealogy Chat

Ag. Lab. ~ Agricultural Labourer (1841-81 Census) Ap. ~ Apprentice (1841-61 Census) Army ~ Members of HM land forces of whatever rank (1841 Census) Cl. ~ Clerk (1841-61 Census) F.S. ~ Female Servant (1841 Census) H.P. ~ Members of HM armed forces on half-pay (1841 Census) Ind. ~ Independent - people living on their own means (1841 Census) J. ~ Journeyman (1841 Census) M. ~ Manufacturer (1841 Census) m. ~ Maker - as in 'Shoe m.' (1841 Census) M.S. ~ Male Servant (1841 Census) Navy ~ Members of HM naval forces, including marines, of whatever rank (1841 Census) P. ~ Pensioner in HM armed forces (1841 Census) Rail. Lab. ~ Railway Labourer (1841 Census) Serv. ~ Servant (1841 Census) Sh. ~ Shopman (1841 Census) Some further information about abbreviations and acronyms -------------------------------------- Definition Of Terms Used On Census Returns England & Wales 1841-1891 Annuitant ~ The term annuitant could describe someone on an annual allowance as well as someone receiving annual income from an investment. Often however, it was also used for institutionalized pensioners. Boarder ~ a person who shares the dinner table with the family. Lodger ~ a person who has separate accomodation to the householder. Lunatic ~ a mentally ill person with periods of lucidity. Imbecile ~ persons who have fallen in later life into a state of chronic dementia. Idiot ~ persons who suffer from congenital mental deficiency. Scholar ~ from 1861 onwards a child was described as a scholar if he/she was over 5 and receiving daily schooling or regular tuition at home. There was no definition of the latter. In 1871 the census officials in London broke the confidentiality pledge and divulged the names of all children 3-13 and their parents (with addresses) to the London School Board to help enforce compulsory education. Dressmaker ~ the occupation of 'dressmaker' was commonly given by prostitutes. In-Law ~ terms such as Brother and Brother-in-Law were used interchangeably and somewhat unreliably. Likewise Sister and Sister-in-Law. -------------------------------------- Some Points To Remember About Census Returns England & Wales 1841-1891 For the 1881 Census the number of married women apparently outstrips that of married men by 61,064. The discrepency is greatest amongst 'married' women under 20. Children sometimes had their ages inflated because of the Factory Act and other child labour laws. Many people gave as their place of birth their earliest remembered place of residence. One farm labourer, who lived in a shed in the farmer's garden, described his relationship to the head of household as 'friendly'!

I was checking this out on Genuki today and thought I would post it on here as the questions do come up quite regularly. In the course of copying out their returns, the census enumerators were given permission to use certain abbreviations for occupations. This practice was most extensive in 1841, and gradually diminished thereafter. By 1871 the only abbreviation mentioned was 'Ag. Lab.' for agricultural labourer. In 1881 a more general instruction was given - such contractions may be used as 'ag. lab.' for agricultural labourer, but care must be taken that the contractions used are such as will be readily understood.

Just seen this Peter, and copied and pasted it. I've been doing genealogy for several years now and know one or two abbrevs., but this is very handy indeed! Thank you. :-)

nudging this one too

I'll do the next nudge Karen, as it'll be very useful! (er, the info that is, not the nudge! lol)

Picking up on what Peter says about the 'in law' term - sometimes I have found this used where 'stepchild' might be more accurate. My great-great grandfather lived in 1871 with his wife, two children and a 'son in law', who was the illegitimate child of his wife (presumably by a second man) from before her marriage. I think it was a loosely applied term.