Census records, how do they work? in the same year im seeing 2 different records with the same family?

Question

I thought there is one record per year. but i found two records in 1801 with the same family

is this right?

Answer 1

1801 censuses didn't include household details or details of individuals. They are pretty useless for family historians from1801 -1831. Do you mean the 1841 census or after?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathw...

It the two records are the same in every respect (address, ages,  inhabitants names) then I can't see a problem in your research. It is a rare event to get two recordings of the same family.

Answer 2

Assuming you mean 1901.

Census records were, in principle, one record per household but it's not unknown to find 2 records. For example, it's possible that a house on the border of two different enumerators might have received a form from both - and then returned them both!

Answer 3

1801  Census was deemed  not suitable for genealogy use.?

Answer 4

Townie, I have seen several instances of "double enumeration" in US records.  So, I would have to assume that it happens in UK census as well.

One reason (I've heard) is that enumerators here, were paid by the number of homes they visited. Another is that the census is NOT completed all in one day but over several months (here). The census date is set AS such and such, and they are supposed to indicate WHO LIVED HERE IN THIS HOUSE AS OF 1 JUNE??  Needless to say, like any instruction, this is not always clear. So a daughter could be counted in mom's home (correctly, as of 1 June), then recounted living with her hubby that she married in July.