1921 Census is now available on Ancestry.co.uk!

Did you know you can access heritage resources for FREE on PCs in Inspire Libraries and Nottinghamshire Archives, through Inspire's online subscription to Ancestry? Simply log in with your library card number and PIN, and start browsing today.

Taken on 19 June 1921, the 1921 Census provides the details of an estimated 38 million individuals and 8.5 million households living in England and Wales at the time. This unique resource gives researchers the opportunity to witness a key moment in the lives of those who had survived the First World War.

The data included in the census shows the impact that war had on households. What jobs were people doing? Who were they living with? In the aftermath of conflict as well as the influenza pandemic of 1918/19, this all paints a picture of how families lived - and recovered - after a turbulent time.

Alongside usual information found in census records, the 1921 Census provides more detail than the previous censuses:

• Marriage status: The 1921 Census is the first to provide 'divorce' as an option for marital status. After the First World War, divorce rates had risen dramatically so recording a more in-depth marital status gives us more insight into how relationships were impacted by war.
• Employment: Compared with previous censuses, the 1921 census returns were more detailed in how they recorded occupation. People were not only asked to provide their 'profession, trade or service" but also to give details of their place of work.
• Education: Following the introduction of the 1918 Education Act, the 1921 Census asked for the educational status of those 15 and younger. In addition, families in 1921 were asked to provide the exact age of children in years and months which was more information than had been asked previously.

The 1921 Census will be the last census publication for the next 30 years - with the next being released in 2052. This is due to the 1931 Census being destroyed in a fire, and the 1941 Census coincided with wartime and so was never taken. The next census release, the 1951 Census, will be in 2052!

This information about the 1921 Census is taken from the Ancestry website and The National Archives, where there are further details about the historical context and organisation of the census returns.

To view more, and enjoy free access to the 1921 Census for England and Wales (as well as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), simply log onto a library PC and access Ancestry through the Inspire website. We hope you enjoy using this brilliant resource!