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".

List Wigan RegD/PLU	Wigan CP/Tn/AP

OCCUPATIONS.	Males. [1]	Females. [2]
1. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE GENERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY.	110	3
Peer, M.P., Privy Councillor (not otherwise described)	1	-
Civil Service (officers and clerks)	13	1
Civil Service (messengers, &c.)	18	-
Police	55	-
Municipal, Parish, Union, District, Officer	14	2
Other Local or County Official	9	-
2. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.	19	-
Soldier and Non-commissioned officer	10	-
Militia, Yeomanry, Volunteers	3	-
Army Pensioner	5	-
Royal Marines (officers/men)	1	-
3. PERSONS ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS (WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES).	341	204
Clergymen (Established Church)	15	-
Roman Catholic Priest	9	-
Minister, Priest of other religious bodies	6	-
Missionary, Scripture Reader, Itinerant preacher	2	1
Nun, Sister of Charity	-	1
Church, chapel, cemetery - officer, servant	6	-
Barrister, Solicitor	20	-
Law Student	3	-
Law Clerk, and others connected with the law	64	-
Physician, Surgeon, General Practitioner	20	-
Dentist	2	-
Medical Student, Assistant	13	-
Midwife	-	4
Subordinate Medical Service	2	37
Schoolmaster	62	135
Teacher, Professor, Lecturer	3	10
School Service, and others connected with teaching	3	1
Author, Editor, Journalist	4	-
Reporter, Short-hand Writer	2	-
Persons engaged in Scientific Pursuits	2	-
Civil Engineer	9	-
Mining Engineer	19	-
Land, House, Ship, Surveyor	10	-
Painter (artist)	4	-
Architect	7	-
Musician, Music Master	29	10
Art Student	1	-
Photographer	6	1
Actor	7	3
Art, Music, Theatre Service	3	-
Performer, Showman, Exhibition, Service	1	-
Billiard, Cricket & other Games, Service	7	1
4. PERSONS ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC OFFICES OR SERVICES.	82	2,039
Domestic Coachman, Groom	11	3
Domestic Gardener	2	-
Domestic Indoor Servant	31	1,807
Lodge, Gate, Park Keeper (not Government)	2	-
Inn, Hotel Servant	28	45
College, Club Service	2	-
Office Keeper (not Government)	3	6
Cook (not domestic)	1	2
Charwoman	-	108
Washing and Bathing Service	-	61
Hospital and Institution Service	1	7
Others engaged in Service	1	-
5. PERSONS ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONS.	390	20
Broker, Agent, Factor	41	1
Auctioneer, Appraiser, Valuer, House Agent	15	-
Accountant	12	-
Salesman, Buyer (not otherwise specified)	3	10
Commercial Traveller	47	5
Commercial Clerk	209	4
Officer of Commercial Company, Guild, Society &c.	1	-
Banker	1	-
Bank Service	15	-
Bill Discounter, Bill Broker, Finance Agent	1	-
Life, House, Ship &c., Insurance Service	45	-
6. PERSONS ENGAGED IN CONVEYANCE OF MEN, GOODS, AND MESSAGES.	741	16
Railway Engine Driver, Stoker	38	-
Railway Guard	25	1
Pointsman, Level Crossing Man	27	-
Other Railway Officials and Servants	160	1
Omnibus, Coach, Cab, Owner - Livery Stable Keeper	4	-
Cabman, Flyman, Coachman (not domestic)	42	1
Carman, Carrier, Carter, Haulier	245	1
Tramway Companies' Service	3	-
Inland Navigation Service	35	1
Bargeman, Lighterman, Waterman	60	9
Seaman (Merchant Service)	2	-
Warehouseman (not Manchester)	22	-
Meter, Weigher	3	-
Messenger, Porter, Watchman (not Railway or Government)	64	1
Telegraph, Telephone Service	11	1
7. PERSONS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE.	120	16
Farmer, Grazier	12	3
Farm Bailiff	1	-
Agricultural Labourer, Farm Servant, Cottager	73	11
Nurseryman, Seedsman, Florist	2	-
Gardener (not domestic)	32	2
8. PERSONS ENGAGED ABOUT ANIMALS.	47	-
Horse Proprietor, Breeder, Dealer	2	-
Groom, Horse-keeper, Horse-breaker	33	-
Veterinary Surgeon, Farrier	6	-
Cattle, Sheep, Pig - Dealer, Salesman	3	-
Drover	1	-
Dog, Bird, Animal - Keeper, Dealer	1	-
Knacker, Catsmeat Dealer &c &c.	1	-
9. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN BOOKS, PRINTS, AND MAPS.	99	7
Publisher, Bookseller, Librarian	10	-
Music-Publisher, Seller, Printer	1	1
Bookbinder	15	3
Printer	67	-
Newspaper Agent, News Room Keeper	6	3
10. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.	377	4
Engine, Machine Maker	41	-
Millwright	2	-
Fitter, Turner (Engine and Machine)	145	-
Boiler Maker	76	-
Spinning and Weaving Machine Maker	38	4
Agricultural Machine and Implement Maker	27	-
Domestic Machinery - Maker, Dealer	1	-
Cutler, Scissors Maker	2	-
Watch Maker, Clock Maker	37	-
Electrical Apparatus Maker	4	-
Weighing and Measuring Apparatus Maker	2	-
Musical Instrument Maker, Dealer	2	-
11. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN HOUSES, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIONS.	964	11
Builder	13	1
Carpenter, Joiner	355	-
Bricklayer	155	-
Mason	57	-
Slater, Tiler	14	-
Plasterer, Whitewasher	37	-
Plumber	61	-
Painter, Glazier	187	-
Cabinet Maker	39	7
French Polisher	6	1
Furniture Broker, Dealer	13	1
Locksmith, Bellhanger	1	-
Gas Fitter	13	-
House and Shop Fittings - Maker, Dealer	4	1
Wood Carver	1	-
Carver, Gilder	5	-
Dealer in Works of Art	3	-
12. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS.	104	-
Coachmaker	38	-
Railway Carriage, Railway Wagon, Maker	3	-
Wheelwright	36	-
Others	5	-
Saddler, Harness, Whip Maker	22	-
13. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN SHIPS AND BOATS.	20	-
Ship, Boat, Barge Builder	15	-
Shipwright, Ship Carpenter (ashore)	5	-
14. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDS.	31	1
Dye, Paint Manufacture	2	-
Fusee, Fireworks, Explosive Article Manufacture	1	1
Chemist, Druggist	23	-
Manufacturing Chemist	4	-
Drysalter	1	-
15. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TOBACCO AND PIPES.	12	1
Tobacco Manufacture, Tobacconist	9	1
Tobacco Pipe, Snuff Box &c. Maker	3	-
16. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN FOOD AND LODGING.	842	218
Innkeeper, Hotel Keeper, Publican	117	25
Lodging, Boarding House Keeper	-	7
Coffee, Eating House, Keeper	4	5
Brewer	38	1
Beerseller, Ale, Porter, Cider Dealer	21	3
Cellarman	3	-
Wine, Spirit - Merchant, Agent	2	1
Milkseller, Dairyman	11	9
Cheesemonger, Butterman	3	-
Butcher, Meat Salesman	153	6
Provision Curer, Dealer	85	54
Poulterer, Game Dealer	2	1
Fishmonger	37	9
Corn, Flour, Seed Merchant, Dealer	9	-
Corn Miller	4	-
Baker	104	14
Confectioner, Pastrycook	17	31
Greengrocer, Fruiterer	29	17
Sugar Refiner	4	1
Grocer. Tea, Coffee, Chocolate Maker, Dealer	192	34
Ginger Beer, Mineral Water Manufacturer, Dealer	7	-
17. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TEXTILE FABRICS.	888	3,768
Woollen Cloth Manufacture	1	-
Cloth, Worsted, Stuff, Flannel, Blanket Dealer	2	-
Silk, Silk Goods, Manufacture	2	3
Silk Dyer, Printer	1	-
Cotton, Cotton Goods Manufacture	654	3,497
Cotton, Calico - Printer, Dyer, Bleacher	3	5
Cotton, Calico - Warehouseman, Dealer	5	-
Flax, Linen - Manufacturer, Dealer	1	3
Fustian Manufacturer, Dealer	-	1
Hemp, Jute, Cocoa Fibre Manufacture	-	1
Rope, Twine, Cord - Maker, Dealer	18	-
Weaver (undefined)	6	30
Dyer, Printer, Scourer, Bleacher, Calenderer (undefined)	6	-
Factory Hand (textile, undefined)	15	170
Draper, Linen Draper, Mercer	170	39
Fancy Goods (Textile) Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	1	3
Trimming Maker, Dealer	-	3
Others	3	13
18. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN DRESS.	417	707
Hatter, Hat Manufacture	10	-
Tailor	165	258
Milliner, Dressmaker, Staymaker	1	353
Shirt Maker, Seamstress	1	83
Hosiery Manufacture	-	1
Hosier, Haberdasher	1	-
Shoe, Boot - Maker, Dealer	110	9
Patten, Clog Maker	99	1
Wig Maker, Hair Dresser	29	-
Old Clothes Dealer, and others	1	2
19. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.	24	-
Tallow Chandler, Candle, Grease Manufacture	5	-
Bone, Horn, Ivory, Tortoise-shell - Worker, Dealer	2	-
Furrier, Skinner	1	-
Tanner, Fellmonger	5	-
Currier	6	-
Brush, Broom, Maker	5	-
20. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.	104	9
Oil Miller, Oil Cake - Maker, Dealer	5	-
India Rubber, Gutta Percha - Worker, Dealer	1	-
Waterproof Goods - Maker, Dealer	8	-
Others	1	-
Willow, Cane, Rush Worker, Dealer, Basketmaker	4	1
Hay, Straw (not plait), Chaff, Cutter, Dealer	2	-
Timber, Wood - Merchant, Dealer	4	-
Sawyer	28	-
Lath, Wooden Fence, Hurdle Maker	2	-
Wood Turner, Box Maker	20	1
Cooper, Hoop Maker, Bender	18	-
Paper Manufacture	1	3
Stationer, Law Stationer	4	4
Paper Stainer	1	-
Paper Box, Paper Bag Maker	2	-
Ticket, Label Writer	1	-
Others	2	-
21. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS MINERAL SUBSTANCES.	5,121	100
Coal Miner	3,873	78
Ironstone Miner	1	-
Miner, in other or undefined Minerals	44	2
Mine Service	19	-
Coal Merchant	19	-
Coalheaver	25	-
Coke, Charcoal, Peat - Cutter, Burner, Dealer	22	1
Gas Works Service	32	-
Stone Quarrier	3	-
Stone Cutter, Dresser, Dealer	2	-
Slate Worker, Dealer	1	-
Limeburner	1	-
Well Sinker, Borer	2	-
Brick, Tile - Maker, Burner, Dealer	92	5
Paviour	34	-
Road Labourer	6	-
Railway Contractor	1	-
Platelayer	29	-
Railway Labourer, Navvy	75	-
Others	1	-
Glass Manufacture	1	-
Earthenware, China, Glass Dealer	9	2
Salt Maker, Dealer	2	1
Waterworks Service	1	-
Goldsmith, Silversmith, Jeweller	1	3
[Iron Manufacture]	399	1
[Steel Manufacture]	1	-
Blacksmith	203	2
Whitesmith	17	-
Nail Manufacture	10	1
Ironmonger. Hardware Dealer, Merchant	36	3
[Coppersmith]	9	-
Tin, Tin Plate, Tin Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	43	-
Metal Refiner, Worker, Turner, Dealer	5	-
Brass, Bronze Manufacture. Brazier	65	-
Wire Maker, Worker, Weaver, Drawer	2	-
Bolt, Nut, Rivet, Screw, Staple Maker	35	1
22. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN GENERAL OR UNSPECIFIED COMMODITIES.	2,144	417
General Shopkeeper, Dealer	54	57
Pawnbroker	27	5
Costermonger, Huckster, Street Seller	55	74
Manufacturer, Manager, Superintendant (undefined)	37	3
Contractor (undefined)	12	-
General Labourer	1,338	10
Engine Driver, Stoker, Fireman (not railway, marine or agricultural)	239	2
Artizan, Mechanic (undefined)	156	21
Apprentice (undefined)	16	-
Factory Labourer (undefined)	205	179
Machinist, Machine Worker (undefined)	5	66
23. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN REFUSE MATTERS.	18	-
Chimney Sweep, Soot Merchant	5	-
Scavenger, Crossing Sweeper	7	-
Rag Gatherer, Dealer	6	-
24. PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS.	114	1,041
Persons returned by Property, Rank &c. and not special occupation	114	1,041
[UNKNOWN OCCUPATION]	135	5,516
[Occupation recorded but of unknown meaning]	12	7
[Blank field, or illegible]	123	5,509

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".

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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.)