Census of Scotland, 1881

Matthew Woollard

The ninth decennial census of Scotland was taken on 3 April 1881 with the authority of an Act for taking the Census of Scotland (43 & 43 Vict. c.38) which had been passed on 7 September 1880. The manner in which the census was taken was almost the same as that in the previous two censuses, which had been organised and taken by the General Register Office of Scotland. In the period since the previous census a new Registrar General, Stair Agnew, had been appointed. He was assisted by a William Robertson, M. D. in the preparation of the first reports issued at this census, and by R. J. Blair Cunynghame, M. D., who also signed the second report.

The householders' schedule for this census was remarkably similar to that used for the 1881 census of England and Wales. Information was asked on name, relation to head of household, marital status, age, occupation, birthplace and infirmity. One question that had been asked in the previous census regarding children's education was omitted. However, an additional question relating to language spoken was asked; though it was not explicitly mentioned in the Act. It would seem to have been an afterthought, added to the householders' schedule after printing, as it was printed in red in a fold on the schedule. This question read: "In column 6 (headed "Where Born") the word "GAELIC" to be added opposite the name of each person who speaks Gaelic habitually".

As in the earlier two censuses enumerators were asked to collect information on the uninhabited houses and numbers of rooms with windows (excluding, as before, those with a 'borrowed' light).

For this census, the definition of a house was revised. The Registrar-General was instructed to regard a house as "(1) every dwelling with a distinct outside entrance from a street, court, land, road, &c., or (2) with a door opening directly into a common stair." (Ninth decennial census of the population of Scotland. Vol. I., x). This new definition was almost identical to that recommended by the previous Registrar-General in the 1861 and 1871 census reports. While its introduction almost certainly improved the results relating to housing in this census, it makes comparisons with earlier censuses difficult. The report gives an example of the discrepancies that resulted from the change of definition: in 1871, according to the old definition, there were a total of 12.22 people to each house in Scottish towns, whereas according to the new definition used in 1881, this ratio had fallen to 5.04. (The ratios for rural houses only fell from 5.32 to 5.13 in the period, suggesting that most of the problems to be encountered are in the larger towns.)

The result of the census were published in two volumes preceeded by a preliminary report. The first volume contained a short report, along with a facsimile of the householder's schedule, and a number of general tables. This was followed by tables showing the population by civil counties and parishes, ecclesiastical sub-divisions, and towns, by parliamentary divisions and by registration counties and registration districts. Two sets of tables on institutions, and families and housing were also given. A useful table showing the differences between the civil and registration counties can also be found in this first volume.

The second volume reported on the remainder of the census. Thematically this covered, ages, educational statistics, marital status, birthplaces and occupations. As in the first volume, the commentary on these subjects is short and dry. No real discussion is presented, only a repetition of some of the more salient facts.

This census seems to have marked a temporary turning point in Scottish censuses, which may be related to the individuals in charge. The report published in the first volume is slender, the commentary is dull and contains none of the spark found in the reports for the previous two censuses – indeed the authors write: "[i]n the Abstracts … and in such brief commentary as we have occasion to make upon any of them, we endeavour to avoid anything in the shape of theory, and to confine ourselves to a mere exposition of facts, leaving to those that are accustomed to deal with such matters full liberty to interpret our Tables without suggestions on our part. … We trust that we may at all events claim credit for a constant desire to avoid subjects of controversy." (Ninth decennial census of the population of Scotland. Vol. I., xii). It is also clear that the Registrar-General was willing to avoid controversy by toeing the English line. The reports for this census contained none of the additional information given in the previous decade's census; there was no repetition of the report on emigration; no repetition of the report on births, deaths and marriages, and the occupational information was tabulated along 'national' lines, with no additional tabulation of dependants. In the last case the report remarks tersely: "upon the present occasion, it is not deemed expedient to continue this Classification, which was then adopted for the first time, and that in Scotland alone." The tone of the commentary gives the impression that Agnew and his assistants wanted to get their job, and nothing more, done.

REFERENCES

Census of Scotland, 1881, Tables of population, etc., 1881 BPP XCVI. (C. 2957). [View this document: Preliminary report, Scotland, 1881]

Census of Scotland, 1881, Ninth decennial census of the population of Scotland taken 4th April 1881, with Report: Vol. I. 1882 BPP LXXVI (C. 3320). [View this document: Population report, Scotland, Vol. I, 1881]

Census of Scotland, 1881, Ninth decennial census of the population of Scotland taken 4th April 1881, with Report: Vol.II. 1883 BPP LXXX (C. 3657). [View this document: Population, Scotland. Vol. II., 1881]