Census records in England and Wales A national census has taken place in England and Wales every ten years since 1801, except for 1941 (due to the Second World War).  The surviving records of the early censuses of 1801 to1831 are, in most cases, just high level statistics with no names included so, normally, the first census records of any use to genealogists are those of 1841.  1841 30th March 1851 Census of England and Wales 1861 1871 3rd April 1881 Census of England and Wales 5th April 1891 Census of England and Wales 31st March 1901 Census of England and Wales