1831 Census Index
The 1831 census was taken on taken on 30th May 1831. Few census schedules have survived from that time, but those for (Low) Leyton and Walthamstow have. Leyton had a population of 3323 and Walthamstow had a population of 4258. Many family historians believe that any pre-1841 census is of little use as it names only the head of household, however it does give a location of residence, the trade they were engaged in, and some idea of the nature of the local area. It is worth remembering that the lives of many were far more linked with their employer than they are today and that following the fortunes of an employer, perhaps deduced from a later census, might tell one much about the lives of employees.
This data is taken from an index previously published by the society as ISBN 0-9523525-0-8 and is not a full transcription of the census schedule, listing just Name, District, Occupation and Census Page Number. The original schedules are kept at Waltham Forest Archives and may be viewed there. Whilst the names shown are those of the head of the household, much information was sought regarding the occupations of all family members and fourteen columns were devoted to this subject.
The following is a list of questions to be reported on by the enumerator:‑
- STREET or PLACE.
- NAMES. Total number of families.
- HOUSES.
- Number of inhabited dwelling houses.
- Now building and not yet inhabited.
- Uninhabited.
- FAMILIES OCCUPYING SAME. Employed in and maintained
by:
- Agriculture.
- Trade, Manufacture or Handicraft.
- Not comprised in either of those classes.
- Persons, including children (of whatever age)
actually in the Parish, Township or Place at the time of
taking the account exclusive of men serving in H.M's
Regular Forces, the Militia, Seamen in H.M's Service, or
the registered Vessels.
- Males.
- Females.
- Number of Males upwards of 20 years old.
MALES UPWARD OF TWENTY YEARS OF AGE
- Employed in Agriculture, including Graziers,
Cowkeepers, Shepherds, and other Farm Servants,
Gardeners (not Taxable as Male Servants), and
Nurserymen.
- Occupiers of land who constantly employ and pay one,
or more than one Labourer or Farm Servant in
Husbandry.
- Occupiers of land who employ no Labourers other than
their own family.
- Labourers in Husbandry, and Farm Servants employed by Occupiers of the First Class.
- Employed in Manufacture, or in making Manufacturing Machinery: but not including Labourers, Porters, Messengers, etc.
- Number.
- In what Manufacture employed.
- Employed in Retail Trade, or in Handicraft, as
Masters, Shopmen, Journeymen, Apprentices, or in any
capacity requiring Skill in the Business, not including
Labourers, Porters, Messengers, etc.
- Number.
- In what Trade employed.
- Wholesale Merchants, Bankers, Capitalists, Professional Persons, Artists, Architects, Teachers, Clerks, Surveyors, and other educated men, including generally, Persons, maintaining themselves otherwise than by manufacture, trade or bodily Labour.
- Miners, Fishermen, Boatmen, Excavators of Canals, Roadmakers, Toll‑Collectors, or Labourers employed by persons of the three preceding Classes, or otherwise employed in any kind of bodily labour, excepting Agriculture.
- Not being Taxable Servants, under the next Question 13 and not included in any of the foregoing Classes and including retired Tradesmen, superannuated Labourers, and Males diseased or disabled in body or mind.
- Household Servants, including all Female Servants,
and sauch Male Servants, of whatever Age, as are Taxable
as such: also Waiters and Attendants at Inns.
- Males, upwards of 20 years of Age.
- Males, 20 years of Age and under.
- Females.
