AGI reveals hidden treasures in Irish census records beyond family names

Professional genealogists have highlighted overlooked census forms that unveil the texture of Irish life in the early 20th century.

Accredited Genealogists Ireland (AGI) has released a new resource highlighting the wealth of information hidden in lesser-known census forms that can be easily overlooked. The information sheet, titled "Beyond Form A: Unlocking the Hidden Depths of the Irish Census", guides researchers to discover forms that reveal not just who lived in Ireland in 1901 and 1911, but how they lived.

While most people searching the Irish census focus solely on Form A—the household return listing names, ages, and occupations—AGI's experts point out that Forms B1, B2, and N provide a rich picture of social and economic conditions. These enumerator-completed forms documented building types and materials, the number of rooms and windows, and farm outbuildings such as stables, dairies, and piggeries. Together, they reveal household-scale function and economic activity across early 20th-century Ireland.

Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish!

Subscribe to IrishCentral

The resource includes a striking example from 1 Dominick Street Lower in Dublin, where census forms reveal that 10 families—58 people in total—lived in a single 15-room house in 1911, with each family occupying only one or two rooms. This reflects the harsh reality faced by over 20,000 Dublin families living in just one room at that time.

AGI's information sheet also details special census forms that capture people living in institutions—workhouses, hospitals, barracks, schools, asylums, prisons, and ships—offering vital insights into the lives of those who might otherwise disappear from the historical record. With the 1926 census set for release on 18 April 2026, AGI notes that this later census adopted a more streamlined approach with fewer specialised forms.

Read more

• Five books for researching your Irish family history
• Six steps to identify your Irish ancestors’ home townlands

The 1901 and 1911 census returns are freely available to search at www.nationalarchives.ie, and AGI encourages family historians to explore beyond the basic household returns to uncover a more complete story of their ancestors' lives.

To find out more about AGI, please visit www.accreditedgenealogists.ie