House numbers in 1901 & 1911 Censuses

Portlaoise Pictures

I have read elsewhere that "The house numbers on the census were the enumerator's own private numbering system, to ensure he visited every home. However he did go in some sort of logical route."
Is this, in fact, the case? Can anyone please clarify -or provide a relevant link to - the situation regarding the house numbering systems in both the 1901 and 1911 censuses.
Thanks very much.

shanew

yes - in rural areas these are the enumerators own numbers, or site numbers - no particular sequence involved.

I dont have an external source reference, but I have confirmed this for a number of townlands.


S.

Portlaoise Pictures

Thanks very much.
But what is the situation as regards streets in towns?
I realise that, in the 1911 Census, the heading 'Residents of a house 1 in .....' does not refer to the actual number of the house. But, in your experience, have the house numbers - as given in 'Additional Pages' , 1911 Census, - always been correct?

shanew

In cities, certainly Dublin, the 1911 site number can often match the actual street numbers at the time. Not so common for towns - especially smaller ones. The additional forms (Form N, B1 etc) use the same site numbers used for the household returns.

You can check the site number verses house number on the reverse of the 1911 forms. This facility is not usually available on the 1901 returns.

The 1901 returns for Dublin have a number of cases where the street numbers do not match the census site numbers - in some cases where the street was new, but not always. In a few of these cases it turns out the the enumerator seems to have continued his count from a main street into a side street or lane.


Shane

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I hired a geneologist to do a family tree for me and I knew the addresses of my ancestors from the 1901 and 1911 census and the street numbers match the census street numbers

Portlaoise Pictures

Thanks very much to both of you. In my experience (with the 1911 census for Portlaoise) the house numbers are usually, but not always, it seems, the actual house numbers at the time.