General Chat

They are doing a census in Calgary this week. All they asked was How many children under 5? How many between 5 and 18? How many adults, male or female? Which school system do you support, public or seperate.? Because we have an election coming soon they then asked names of those over the age of 18 eligible to vote. So the names of those youger than 18 are not recorded. We were not asked place of birth or occupation. You can not vote in Canada if you are not a Canadian citizen so no names are recorded for those people. My neighbour was the census taker and a fellow genealogist so we had quite a discussion on the merits of this census for our decendents. I know that this was just a city census, not a federal one but still think it is not complete enough.

1971 - Watford Herts In between Northampton 1981 - Hatfield Herts 1991 - Bethnal Green In between Luton Beds 2001 - County Down N.Ireland I've moved around a bit in between - it looks as if I can't stay put!! Don't know about you , but it's made me realise that in between census takings we could all be lost , so will write down a resume for future generations re addresses, occupations etc etc. I mean how many ppl have changed their jobs in their lifetimes?

Last night, in our club the subject came up and it was mentioned that at least 750,000 young men would be missing from the 2001 census, some of the reasons have already been quoted here, others such as living with girlfriends, who are on benefit, and who would lose out, if they stated they were living together.....others away from home, working away, even abroad......go for a holiday, get a job, and dont return.......

At least we do have a census in the U.K. ! and our descendents will be able to go looking for us ... and maybe even find us on it. In the late 1970's/ early 1980's (?) the Germans did a census. For months beforehand there was a lot of controversy, with people threatening to burn the census forms (some actually did, got fined, put in prison, etc !) etc. After this census, the Germans decided to only do a Mini-Census: only 10% of the population would be asked, and only demographic questions, no names, no pack drill, total confidentiality, etc, etc. I seem to recall at least one being taken, but since then, I can't remember when 'Census' was last mentioned here !

haha Kevin, that made me laugh I to decided to become a jedi knight on the census, are future relatives are going to think we were mad!!! However hasten to add, behaved quite respectedly for the filling of the rest of the census, so hopefully I won't have caused too much stress! (unlike my ancestors who practically all decided to be visiting others, or they just couldn't be bothered to do it!)

You have really got me thinking there Lianne. If the census was taken tonight, I would appear to live on my own! Hubby is working on nights, son is staying at his girlfriends and my daughter is living in Madrid until June. Never really thought about how hard we are making it for our future rellie hunters! Maggy

me and my flatmates were slightly drunk on the night of the last census and i have bad enough hand writing sober so i have probably been transcribed wrong. also cos we were drunk we thought it be a laugh and fill in religion as Jedi Knight. we then callled all our friends up to see if we could get round their houses and be put on their forms as visitors. so i know i appear 3 times at least. god help my decendents if they want to find me in 100 years

I was living in Germany for the 1981, 1991 and 2001 census. 2011 ?? due to retire, but late in the year. 2021 ???? Who knows ! Maybe I should add something to my "last will and testament", or better still, bequeath my birth and marriage certificates to my daughter

I was living in Germany in 2001, so won't be appearing on that census! With regards future census due to be released, I believe that there is no information for 1931 (destroyed during WWII) and 1941 (not taken due to WWII).

Hi Liane I was on honeymoon during the 2001 census and in the process of moving house at the time. I have to confess that my mum didn't include me on her form and the form from my new house was thrown away before we got back there by the previous owners. The result being we were not included in the census at all. Hope its not against the law or anything! Lynne

Hi Lianne 1901 census I found my grandfathers older brother a few doors away from his family home. He was visiting his grandfather at the time !. Yes it's going to be really confusing for future genealogists. More people are not marrying & some have had many partners & children from different relationships. therefore many children have different surnames to their parents & even siblings. Maybe national insurance numbers or something like that will be recorded in the future to trace relitives ! Elaine x

Elaine i think you mean an elk lol okay people apologies for the poor typing :)

Bill: Is an Alk a kind of creature ? Elaine x LOL ! :o))

Having read so many complaints about people not being able to find relatives on the appropriate census because they were not where they should be, I have realised that when the time comes for me to complain, I will have no room to do so. When the census was taken in 2001 I had moved in with my boyfriend and his parents, although I was not yet 16 (due to family problems). I sincerely pity my future relatives who may ever search for me on this census as they would have no reason to suspect me of being anywhere but at home at that age. Come on - how many of you have done the same thing and messed up the census for future generations? Its time to 'fess up LOL. Lianne

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