So, a fun thing I recently discovered is that you can do a basic search of the UK censuses up to 1911 for free online: https://ukcensusonline.com/
The information it gives you for free is very limited, just a person, the place at the time of census, age, and sometimes a profession. Most of the professions are as you might expect- "farmer" "domestic servant" "tin miner" and so on- and some of them are outdated as you might expect e.g. "hawker" "stone cutler" etc.
Occasionally there's one that appears to be improperly transcribed, for example I think "daisy worker" is more likely to be "dairy worker", and sometimes there's one that surprises you, for example someone who shares my surname was an "analytical chemist" in 1911, and in 1901 one of my more forward thinking ancestors was an electrical fitter's apprentice.
Occasionally, though, there are occupations that appear to be clear confusion on the part of the census taker- for example I don't think Alice X was a "farmer's son", although if she was, more power to her. Another person is described as a "planning machine" and one simply as "boy". I also enjoy the distinction of "scholar" and "at school" for some of the children.
My most interesting discovery so far is a female university student in 1911!
Anyway, it's been a fun way to spend an afternoon and get a little insight into how some of my ancestors lived!
















