The Irish Census of 1901 and 1911 provides a treasure trove of information about our ancestors, the type of house they lived in and their neighbours. But what other information do the forms reveal? The census information can provide clues which are a little like the lifelines in Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? You may have suspicions about your family history but the little additional nuggets of information that can be gleaned from the census can help you confirm these suspicions.
‘Ask the Audience’
Indirectly, the census provides us with pointers to ascertain previous generations. In Ireland, and for that matter, in other societies, forenames were given to children based on a naming tradition. Usually the first born son was named for his paternal grandfather, next born son, for his maternal grandfather, the third son for his father. For girls, there was a similar tradition, first born after her paternal grandmother, second, after her maternal grandmother and third after her mother. This general rule has proved very valuable for some of my ancestors, but for other branches of my family, it has just confused matters as the naming pattern does not meet the usual traditions.
Taking my great-grandfather, Michael White, as an example. His first born son and daughter are Richard and Norah, suggesting these are his parents’ forenames. The second born daughter is Mary, is this my maternal great-great-grandmother’s name? Interestingly and a bonus certainly for my research is the fact that two relatives are included on the census, Anne Hurley and Anne Donovan, which are important clues.
Figure 1: 1911 Irish Census – Michael & Mary White.
The 1911 census indicates that my great-grandparents married in 1906, so the 1901 census should show Michael and Mary living with their parents and reveal if the White family observed the naming traditions.
Figure 2: 1901 Irish Census – Michael White. 
The 1901 census reveals that Michael and Mary White named their firstborn son and daughter after Michael’s parents Richard and Hanora White. My great-great-grandmother, Mary White (nee Donovan) was not living with her parents in 1901, as her mother died shortly after her birth, and her paternal aunt Anne Hurley reared her. Consulting Mary’s birth certificate it shows that her mother and father were Richard and Mary. This confirms that the naming tradition was followed, however, whilst this naming pattern is a great aid in research, it is important not to make leaps of faith as you can create a bogus branch of your family tree, so remember genealogical proof standards – establish the proof of a conclusion with reasonable certainty.
Figure 3: Birth registration of Mary Donovan.
In certain cases, the naming tradition can be abandoned where a death of a relative around the time of a birth occurs, the newly born child is often named for the deceased. In the case of my maternal great-grandmother, Ellen, eldest daughter of John and Mary Hennigan. The 1901 census reveals the very useful fact that John Hennigan’s mother, Mary was still living, so why was Ellen not named Mary? John Hennigan’s sister, Ellen died aged eighteen, in 1870 as a result of scarlatina, his daughter was born in 1872 and probably was named after her deceased aunt.
Figure 4: 1901 Irish Census - Ellen Hennigan.
‘Phone a friend’
Other useful information that can be garnered from the Irish census are adult siblings or elderly parents living together. John Hennigan again is a useful example, in the 1901 (figure 4), it records his mother Mary and his brother Maurice living with him. These two snippets of information are vital clues in deciphering John’s parentage. Unfortunately, Mary is a popular name in the early twentieth century in Ireland, so are there any other clues that can help.
Again John S. Hennigan is providing another clue. The initial would suggest that there are two John Hennigans living in the townland and John S’s father’s forename begins with S.
Figure 5: 1901 Census search results.
So now when I do a search to find my great-great-grandfather, I know he had at least two sons, John and Maurice, his forename began with the letter S and his wife’s name was Mary. It is very probable that the results of Parish Baptism (figure XX) showing John and Morris Hannigan are my great-great-grandfather and his brother. The page from the register records my great-great-grandmother’s maiden name as Buttimer.
Figure 6: Parish baptism results.
So remember the next time you are researching the Irish census look out for additional clues that the forms are showing or return and review the forms you have already found. You may not win a £1,000,000 but you may unearth new evidence or reignite your search for elusive ancestors.
Sensa ya Ireland ya 1901 na 1911 hutoa hazina ya habari kuhusu mababu zetu, aina ya nyumba waliishi katika na majirani zao. Lakini ni habari gani nyingine ambazo fomu hizo hufunua? Habari za sensa zinaweza kutoa vidokezo ambavyo ni kidogo kama lifelines katika Nani Anataka Kuwa Millionaire? Unaweza kuwa na shaka kuhusu historia yako ya familia lakini nuggets kidogo ya ziada ya habari ambayo inaweza kuwa gleaned kutoka sensa inaweza kukusaidia kuthibitisha shaka hizi. <unk> Uliza Watazamaji<unk> Kwa njia isiyo ya moja kwa moja, sensa inatupa viashiria vya kugundua vizazi vya awali. Katika Ireland, na kwa habari hiyo, katika jamii nyingine, majina ya kwanza yalipewa watoto kulingana na desturi ya kutaja majina. Kwa kawaida mwana wa kwanza alizaliwa aliitwa kwa jina la babu yake wa baba, mwana wa pili alizaliwa kwa jina la babu yake wa mama, na mwana wa tatu kwa jina la baba yake. Kwa wasichana, kulikuwa na utamaduni kama huo, wa kwanza kuzaliwa baada ya nyanya yake ya baba, wa pili, baada ya nyanya yake ya mama na wa tatu baada ya mama yake. Kanuni hii ya jumla imethibitika kuwa yenye thamani sana kwa baadhi ya mababu zangu, lakini kwa matawi mengine ya familia yangu, imechanganya mambo kwa sababu muundo wa kutaja majina haukidhi mapokeo ya kawaida. Kwa mfano, nadhani babu yangu mkubwa, Michael White, alikuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na tisa. Mwanawe wa kwanza na binti yake ni Richard na Norah, ikidokeza kwamba hizi ni majina ya kwanza ya wazazi wake. Binti wa pili aliyezaliwa ni Mary, je, hilo ndilo jina la nyanya yangu mkubwa wa mama yangu? "Kitu cha kushangaza na cha ziada kwa utafiti wangu ni ukweli kwamba jamaa wawili wamejumuishwa katika sensa, Anne Hurley na Anne Donovan, ambao ni vidokezo muhimu.""" 1911 Ireland sensa: Michael na Mary White "Kulingana na sensa ya 1911, babu na nyanya yangu walifunga ndoa mwaka 1906, kwa hiyo sensa ya 1901 inapaswa kuonyesha Michael na Mary wakiishi na wazazi wao na kufunua kama familia ya White ilifuatilia mila ya kutaja majina.""" "Mfano wa kwanza ni ""Census ya Ireland ya 1901"" iliyofanywa na Michael White." Katika sensa ya mwaka wa 1901, Michael na Mary White walipewa jina la mtoto wao wa kwanza, Richard na Hanora White. Mama yake mkubwa, Mary White, alikuwa amekufa mwaka 1901 na alilelewa na shangazi yake Anne Hurley. Kuchunguza cheti cha kuzaliwa cha Mary inaonyesha kwamba mama yake na baba yake walikuwa Richard na Mary. Hii inathibitisha kwamba utamaduni wa kutaja majina ulifuatwa, hata hivyo, wakati muundo huu wa kutaja majina ni msaada mkubwa katika utafiti, ni muhimu kutofanya kuruka kwa imani kama unaweza kuunda tawi bandia la mti wako wa familia, kwa hivyo kumbuka viwango vya uthibitisho wa ukoo - kuanzisha uthibitisho wa hitimisho na uhakika wa busara. Picha ya tatu: Usajili wa kuzaliwa kwa Mary Donovan Katika hali fulani, desturi ya kutaja jina inaweza kuachwa ambapo kifo cha jamaa karibu na wakati wa kuzaliwa hutokea, mtoto mchanga huzaliwa mara nyingi kwa ajili ya marehemu. Mzee wa mama yangu, Ellen, binti mkubwa wa John na Mary Hennigan. "Hata hivyo, katika sensa ya mwaka wa 1901, John Hennigan alimwambia Mary kwamba ""si mimi, bali ni mama yangu.""" Hennigan alikuwa na dada wa kambo, Ellen, ambaye alikufa akiwa na umri wa miaka kumi na minane, na binti yake, Ellen, alizaliwa mwaka 1872 na labda aliitwa kwa jina la shangazi yake aliyekufa. "Mfano wa kwanza ni ""Census ya Ireland ya 1901"" iliyoandikwa na Ellen Hennigan." <unk> Piga simu rafiki<unk> Habari nyingine muhimu ambazo zinaweza kupatikana kutoka kwa sensa ya Ireland ni ndugu wazima au wazazi wazee wanaoishi pamoja. John Hennigan, ambaye aliishi na mama yake Mary na ndugu yake Maurice, aliishi na mkewe Mary. Vipande hivyo viwili vya habari ni vidokezo muhimu katika kufunua asili ya John. Mary ni jina la kipekee katika Ireland ya karne ya ishirini, lakini ni jina la kawaida katika Ireland. Kwa mara nyingine tena John S. Hennigan anatoa kidokezo kingine. "Hii ni kwa sababu jina la kwanza la John Hennigan linatokana na jina la baba yake, ""S.""" "Kwa hivyo sasa ninapotafuta babu yangu mkubwa, najua alikuwa na wana wawili, John na Maurice, jina lake la kwanza lilianza na herufi S na jina la mkewe lilikuwa ""Mary.""" "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika picha ya ""Parish Baptism"" (picha ya 20), John na Morris Hannigan ni babu yangu mkubwa na ndugu yake." Ukurasa kutoka kwa rekodi unaorekodi jina la utotoni la nyanya yangu mkubwa kama Buttimer. Picha ya 6: Matokeo ya ubatizo wa parokia Wakati mwingine unapofanya utafiti wa sensa ya Ireland, angalia kwa njia ya kutafakari na kutafakari fomu zilizopatikana. Unaweza kushinda £ 1m lakini unaweza kufunua ushahidi mpya au kuamsha tena utafutaji wako wa mababu wasioeleweka.