Vision of Britain | 1881 Census: Ages

1881 Census of England and Wales, Tables: Ages, Condition as to Marriage, Occupations and Birthplaces of people, Table 10 : " Occupations of Males and Females in the Division and its Registration Counties".

Show Oldham RegD/PLU table	Royton CP/Ch

OCCUPATIONS.	Males. [1]	Females. [2]
1. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE GENERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY.	18	-
Civil Service (officers and clerks)	2	-
Civil Service (messengers, &c.)	1	-
Police	7	-
Municipal, Parish, Union, District, Officer	7	-
Other Local or County Official	1	-
2. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.	1	-
Army Pensioner	1	-
3. PERSONS ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS (WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES).	41	24
Clergymen (Established Church)	3	-
Roman Catholic Priest	1	-
Minister, Priest of other religious bodies	1	-
Missionary, Scripture Reader, Itinerant preacher	-	1
Church, chapel, cemetery - officer, servant	3	1
Barrister, Solicitor	2	-
Law Clerk, and others connected with the law	4	-
Physician, Surgeon, General Practitioner	6	-
Dentist	1	-
Subordinate Medical Service	-	4
Schoolmaster	9	18
School Service, and others connected with teaching	2	-
Mining Engineer	4	-
Land, House, Ship, Surveyor	1	-
Architect	1	-
Musician, Music Master	1	-
Art Student	1	-
Billiard, Cricket & other Games, Service	1	-
4. PERSONS ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC OFFICES OR SERVICES.	26	249
Domestic Coachman, Groom	12	-
Domestic Gardener	4	-
Domestic Indoor Servant	2	221
Inn, Hotel Servant	2	-
College, Club Service	4	-
Office Keeper (not Government)	-	1
Charwoman	-	21
Washing and Bathing Service	1	6
Others engaged in Service	1	-
5. PERSONS ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONS.	66	1
Broker, Agent, Factor	2	1
Commercial Traveller	2	-
Commercial Clerk	50	-
Life, House, Ship &c., Insurance Service	12	-
6. PERSONS ENGAGED IN CONVEYANCE OF MEN, GOODS, AND MESSAGES.	135	3
Pointsman, Level Crossing Man	2	-
Other Railway Officials and Servants	20	-
Toll Collector, Turnpike Gate Keeper	-	2
Cabman, Flyman, Coachman (not domestic)	1	-
Carman, Carrier, Carter, Haulier	84	1
Warehouseman (not Manchester)	19	-
Messenger, Porter, Watchman (not Railway or Government)	8	-
Telegraph, Telephone Service	1	-
7. PERSONS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE.	71	2
Farmer, Grazier	28	-
Farmer's, Grazier's - Son, Grandson, Brother, Nephew	6	-
Farm Bailiff	1	-
Agricultural Labourer, Farm Servant, Cottager	31	2
Nurseryman, Seedsman, Florist	1	-
Gardener (not domestic)	4	-
8. PERSONS ENGAGED ABOUT ANIMALS.	4	-
Horse Proprietor, Breeder, Dealer	1	-
Veterinary Surgeon, Farrier	1	-
Cattle, Sheep, Pig - Dealer, Salesman	1	-
Drover	1	-
9. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN BOOKS, PRINTS, AND MAPS.	3	1
Publisher, Bookseller, Librarian	1	-
Printer	1	-
Newspaper Agent, News Room Keeper	1	1
10. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.	67	1
Engine, Machine Maker	3	-
Millwright	12	-
Fitter, Turner (Engine and Machine)	13	-
Boiler Maker	2	-
Spinning and Weaving Machine Maker	33	1
Tool Maker, Dealer	1	-
Watch Maker, Clock Maker	2	-
Weighing and Measuring Apparatus Maker	1	-
11. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN HOUSES, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIONS.	207	1
Builder	5	-
Carpenter, Joiner	55	-
Bricklayer	67	-
Mason	34	1
Slater, Tiler	3	-
Plasterer, Whitewasher	5	-
Plumber	12	-
Painter, Glazier	17	-
Cabinet Maker	6	-
Furniture Broker, Dealer	1	-
Gas Fitter	2	-
12. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS.	10	-
Wheelwright	7	-
Saddler, Harness, Whip Maker	3	-
13. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN SHIPS AND BOATS.	2	-
Ship, Boat, Barge Builder	2	-
14. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDS.	4	-
Chemist, Druggist	4	-
16. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN FOOD AND LODGING.	121	38
Innkeeper, Hotel Keeper, Publican	30	7
Brewer	3	-
Beerseller, Ale, Porter, Cider Dealer	5	-
Butcher, Meat Salesman	29	1
Provision Curer, Dealer	3	1
Fishmonger	3	-
Corn, Flour, Seed Merchant, Dealer	2	-
Baker	5	4
Confectioner, Pastrycook	1	3
Greengrocer, Fruiterer	5	2
Grocer. Tea, Coffee, Chocolate Maker, Dealer	35	20
17. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TEXTILE FABRICS.	1,532	1,704
Fuller	1	-
Silk, Silk Goods, Manufacture	-	1
Cotton, Cotton Goods Manufacture	1,297	1,497
Cotton, Calico - Printer, Dyer, Bleacher	27	8
Cotton, Calico - Warehouseman, Dealer	30	-
Fustian Manufacturer, Dealer	53	114
Tape Manufacturer, Dealer	1	-
Rope, Twine, Cord - Maker, Dealer	2	-
Weaver (undefined)	3	32
Dyer, Printer, Scourer, Bleacher, Calenderer (undefined)	4	1
Factory Hand (textile, undefined)	84	37
Draper, Linen Draper, Mercer	6	11
Others	24	3
18. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN DRESS.	41	62
Tailor	11	1
Milliner, Dressmaker, Staymaker	-	53
Shirt Maker, Seamstress	-	5
Shoe, Boot - Maker, Dealer	15	1
Patten, Clog Maker	15	-
Old Clothes Dealer, and others	-	2
20. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.	8	3
Willow, Cane, Rush Worker, Dealer, Basketmaker	3	1
Timber, Wood - Merchant, Dealer	1	-
Sawyer	2	-
Wood Turner, Box Maker	1	1
Paper Manufacture	1	-
Stationer, Law Stationer	-	1
21. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS MINERAL SUBSTANCES.	308	1
Coal Miner	111	1
Miner, in other or undefined Minerals	1	-
Mine Service	2	-
Coal Merchant	10	-
Gas Works Service	23	-
Stone Quarrier	2	-
Limeburner	3	-
Clay, Sand, Gravel, Chalk, Labourer, Dealer	1	-
Brick, Tile - Maker, Burner, Dealer	27	-
Paviour	2	-
Road Labourer	3	-
Platelayer	7	-
Railway Labourer, Navvy	1	-
Glass Manufacture	1	-
Earthenware, China, Glass Dealer	1	-
[Iron Manufacture]	79	-
Blacksmith	23	-
Ironmonger. Hardware Dealer, Merchant	3	-
Tin, Tin Plate, Tin Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	6	-
Bolt, Nut, Rivet, Screw, Staple Maker	1	-
Others	1	-
22. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN GENERAL OR UNSPECIFIED COMMODITIES.	263	23
General Shopkeeper, Dealer	7	4
Costermonger, Huckster, Street Seller	1	1
Manufacturer, Manager, Superintendant (undefined)	6	1
General Labourer	104	-
Engine Driver, Stoker, Fireman (not railway, marine or agricultural)	61	1
Artizan, Mechanic (undefined)	41	2
Apprentice (undefined)	1	-
Factory Labourer (undefined)	17	14
Machinist, Machine Worker (undefined)	25	-
23. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN REFUSE MATTERS.	1	-
Scavenger, Crossing Sweeper	1	-
24. PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS.	24	425
Persons returned by Property, Rank &c. and not special occupation	24	425
[UNKNOWN OCCUPATION]	29	757
[Occupation recorded but of unknown meaning]	1	2
[Blank field, or illegible]	28	755

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Notes:

The following notes to the table appeared in the original report.

1	This table is a very special case: The original Table 10 as published by Division in the 1881 census reports was limited to data for Registration Divisions, their component Registration Counties, and just those Urban Sanitary Districts with populations of over 50,000. Data presented here for counties and higher-level units are taken from the published reports, as usual, but we also include in A Vision of Britain through Time data for Registration Districts, sub-Districts and Civil Parishes which never appeared in the original reports. These were specially created for us by the History Data Service at the University of Essex and derive from the complete transcription of the individual-level Enumerators Book data coordinated by the Genealogical Society of Utah.
2	In creating these data, each occupation listed in the enumerators books has been assigned as far as possible to the relevant category used in the published reports, but some additional categories with labels in square brackets unavoidably appear. Unlike the published statistics for higher-level units, these specially-calculated data for districts and parishes include persons under 15 or over 65. For these and other reasons, no attempt has been made to ensure that county totals for the districts or parishes match the published county totals. The remaining notes are those that appeared below the original published table.
3	NOTE.--Persons returned as engaged in more than one occupation have been referred to the one that appeared to be of most importance; or if there was no difference in this respect, to the one first given by the person in his or her return. In some cases special rules have been followed: e.g. "Clergyman and Schoolmaster" in combination has always been referred to "Schoolmaster"; a Member of Parliament or Peer engaged in any branch of commerce or industry has always been referred to this latter, not to "Peer, M.P.".
4	The numbers returned under any heading include Labourers, Apprentices, and Assistants, as well as Masters, but not Clerks, Messengers, Errand boys, Porters, or Watchmen, for which occupations there are special headings. Civil, Military, and Naval Clerks, Law, Bank, Insurance, and Railway Clerks, and Government and Railway Porters, are, however, exceptions to this rule. Many young persons, being Apprentices or Assistants, have therefore been referred to occupations usually followed by adults. Women also, chiefly widows or orphans carrying on the business of their deceased husbands or fathers, will sometimes be found under occupations commonly followed by men only.
5	Persons returned as retired from any business have not been referred to that business. Inmates of workhouses have been referred to their trades, unless their age or infirmities showed that they were past work. But persons who might be supposed to be only temporarily separated from their usual employment, such as Prisoners, and Patients in General Hospitals, have been classed under their usual occupations.
6	In some cases, for convenience of space, the male designation, e.g. "Schoolmaster", alone is given, instead of "Schoolmaster, Schoolmistress".

This website does not try to provide an exact replica of the original printed census tables, which often had thousands of rows and far more columns than will fit on our web pages. Instead, we let you drill down from national totals to the most detailed data available. The column headings are those that appeared in the original printed report. The numbers presented here, which are the same ones we use to create statistical maps and graphs, come from the census table and have usually been carefully checked.

The system can only hold statistics for units listed in our administrative gazetteer, so some rows from the original table may be missing. Sometimes big low-level units, like urban parishes, were divided between more than one higher-level units, like Registration sub-Districts. This is why some pages will give a higher figure for a lower-level unit: it covers the whole of the lower-level unit, not just the part within the current higher-level unit.

Acknowledgments:

We are grateful to the following contributors. If you make use of the data in your own work, please follow any instructions given here on acknowledgment and re-use.

(1) Kevin Schurer (Department of Geography, University of Cambridge). Role: editor. Restrictions on use: the data cannot be accessed, although the Vision of Britain system may present them graphically (any other use requires the contributor's permission.)

(2) Matthew Woollard (UK Data Service, University of Essex). Role: editor. Restrictions on use: the data cannot be accessed, although the Vision of Britain system may present them graphically (any other use requires the contributor's permission.)