Birthplaces of the Population
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The information furnished on the Occupier's Schedule affords the means of ascertaining the numbers born in each County of England and Wales, in Scotland, in Ireland, in the British Colonies and Dependencies and in Foreign Countries, and thus of tracing the effects of immigration from without and of migration of the population within the Country; the following brief Table shows the composition of the population of England and Wales at the date of the Census together with comparative figures for the two previous Censuses. The significant features of this Table are (1) that the proportion of persons enumerated in England and Wales who were born, therein, or in Scotland, shows little variation from Census to Census, (2) that there has been a remarkable decrease in the proportion of persons born in Ireland, and (3) that there has been a considerable increase in the proportion of persons born in the Colonies and in Foreign Countries. In England and Wales the increase of population in the decennium 1891-1901 amounted to 3,525,318, and the excess of Births over Deaths to 3,593,648: the Country therefore suffered a net loss by migration of 68,330 persons or 0.2 per cent. in every Registration County, without exception, the Births out-numbered the Deaths during the decennium, and, therefore, had there been no migration,1
the population in each County would have been greater than at the previous Census: as a matter of fact, however, there were five English Counties—Oxfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Herefordshire, Rutlandshire and Westmorland, and five Welsh Counties—Cardiganshire, Brecknockshire, Montgomeryshire, Flintshire, and Merionethshire, in each of which the enumerated population had diminished since the previous Census. These 10 Counties, all of which are of limited dimensions and may be generally described as agricultural Counties, lost by migration not only all their natural increment, i.e., the excess of Births over Deaths, in the ten years, but also a further portion of their population. In 27 other Registration Counties, including London, the actual increment was less than the natural increment. These 27 Comities had therefore lost varying proportions of their population by migration. On the other hand, in the following 18 Registration Counties the actual growth was in excess of the natural growth. It will be observed that all the Counties immediately surrounding the Metropolis gained largely by migration, a considerable proportion of the London population obviously having removed into the suburban districts. Of the persons born in London, 261,533 were enumerated in the County of Essex, of whom nearly 200,000 were resident in the suburban towns of West Ham, East Ham, Walthamstow, and Leyton; 241,384 were enumerated in the County of Middlesex, of whom nearly one-half were resident in the towns of Willesden, Tottenham, and Hornsey; 114,041 were enumerated in the County of Surrey of which number the County Borough of Croydon absorbed nearly 30,000; and 92,506 were enumerated in the County of Kent: in all, over 700,000 natives of London were enumerated in these four Counties. If, however, we take the area constituted by London, Surrey, Kent, Middlesex, and Essex, we find that over eight millions of population were enumerated therein, of whom about six millions, or three fourths, were born within this area. Glamorganshire, in which County about one-third of the male population over 10 years of age are engaged in the mining industry, stands fourth on the list; this County gained in population by the immigration of over 100,000 natives of other Welsh Counties, of 34,633 natives of Monmouthshire, of 28,756 natives of Somersetshire, and of 20,827 natives of Gloucestershire.; on the other hand, over 23,000 natives of Glamorganshire were enumerated in the neighbouring Counties of Monmouth and Carmarthen. Next in order is Lancashire, in which County over half a million of the population over 10 years of age are engaged in the textile industries. The County gained by the immigration of over 150,000 natives of Yorkshire, of over 136,000 natives of Cheshire, and of nearly 113,000 natives of the Counties of Salop, Stafford, and Derby, these large gains being, however, partly counter-balanced by the migration of natives of Lancashire into other Counties, nearly 82,000 of whom were enumerated in Yorkshire, and over 112,000 in the neighbouring County of Chester. It will not be necessary to discuss further the composition of the population in all those Counties that gained by migration; it may be stated, however, that in 1891 there were only nine such Counties, whereas in 1901 the list had extended to 17 (excluding Radnorshire), and that, further, in 1901 there were over eight millions of persons who had migrated from the Counties in which they were born into other Counties, as compared with nearly seven millions in 1891. This increase in the numbers of migratory persons was, however, barely proportional to the increase of population in the past decennium; for the proportion of Natives of England and Wales enumerated in the Counties in which they were born showed little variation at the two Censuses, being 74.9 per cent. in 1891 and 73.9 per cent. in 1901. Considering the increased facilities for locomotion and the consequent ability of the working classes and others to transfer their services from one County to another, it is somewhat remarkable that the increase in the movement of the population during the past decennium has not been greater. Comparing the two sexes in this respect, it appears that women are somewhat more migratory than men, for while the proportion of the males who were born in the Counties in which they were enumerated was 74.3 per cent., the proportion of the females so born and enumerated only reached 72.9 per cent. The most obvious causes of this greater tendency of women than of men to migrate are (1) that girls often go into domestic service at a distance from their homes, and (2) that when persons living in different counties intermarry, the future residence is generally in the husband's county. The proportions of natives enumerated within the Counties in which they were born varied considerably in different parts of the Country; thus, of the natives of Lancashire enumerated in England and Wales, more than 89 per cent. were living within the County borders; in Glamorganshire the proportion was 88 per cent., in Yorkshire 86 per cent., and in Durham 84 per cent. These four mining and manufacturing Counties, which provide industrial occupations for their native population, also had the highest proportions of resident natives at the preceding Census. On the other hand, the Counties that showed the greatest loss of natives were, as might be expected, the Agricultural Counties, the following being a list of twelve English and four Welsh Counties in which the proportion of natives of the County who were enumerated therein was less than 60 per cent:— Those who wish to study in greater detail the interesting subject of Migration are referred to Table 36 in the County Volumes, which gives the Birthplaces of the persons enumerated in each County; to Table XLV. of the Summary Volume for England and Wales, which gives the distribution in the several Counties of the enumerated natives of each County; and also to Tables 39 and 40 in Appendix A to this Report, which show the relation between the County of Birth and that of enumeration. The natives of Ireland enumerated in England and Wales in 1901 numbered 426,565 (224,967 males and 201,598 females), and were in the proportion of 13.1 per 1,000 of the entire population, this number showing a decline since the preceding Census of 31,750 persons, or of 7 per cent. This decline in the number of Irish-born persons enumerated in England and Wales is no new feature. On referring back to 1861, we find that the number of Irish living in England and Wales in that year was 601,634, but at each Census since that date the decline has been continuous; in 1871 the number had fallen to 566,540, in 1881 to 562,374, in 1891 to 458,315, and finally in 1901 to 426,565. This decline has doubtless been mainly due to the decrease in the population of Ireland, which fell from over five-and-three-quarter millions in 1861 to slightly under four-and-a-half millions in 1901. If this decrease in population be taken into account, it will be found that the Irish in England and Wales, when measured by the proportion to the population enumerated in Ireland, increased with each successive Census up to 1881, but showed a falling off thereafter; in 1861 there were 104 Irish in this Country to 1,000 of the population enumerated in Ireland, in 1871 there were 105, in 1881 the proportion reached its highest point, 109, in 1891 a decline set in the proportion receded to 97, and further to 96 in 1901. Concurrently with the fall in the last decennia in the number of Irish-born resident in this Country, the number of Irish emigrants to places outside Europe fell from 741,883 in the intercensal period 1881-1891 to 465,273 in the period 1891-1901, and the number2
of Irish-born enumerated in the United States of America fell from 1,871,509 in 1890 to 1,618,567 in 1900. The distribution of the Irish in the different parts of England and Wales was very unequal. In the Agricultural Counties their numbers were insignificant, while in the manufacturing and mining Counties they formed an appreciable proportion of the population. Thus, no fewer than 163,569, or nearly two-fifths of the total, were enumerated in Lancashire and Cheshire, a decrease, however, since 1891 of 20,926, or of 11.3 per cent.; in London there were 60,211, and 33,850 more were resident in the aggregate being almost identical with those enumerated in 1861; in Yorkshire there were 39,145, against 43,098 in 1891; in the Mining Counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Cumberland 38,480, a falling off of over 9,000 since 1891; and in Hampshire, in which County there are generally quartered large numbers of soldiers and sailors, there were 13,430, compared with 11,848 in 1891. In these twelve Counties there were enumerated 348,685, or 82 per cent of the total Irish-born residents in England and Wales, at the date of the Census. For the proportion of Irish-born enumerated in each County in England and Wales, see
Table 39 in Appendix A to this Report. The English Counties in which the proportion of Irish-born to the population was lowest were Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Huntingdonshire, Suffolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Buchinghamshire, Wiltshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire; the Welsh Counties were Merionethshire, Cardiganshire, Montgomeryshire, Carmarthenshire and Radnorshire; in no one of these mainly Agricultural Counties was the proportion of Irish to the total population higher than 0.4 per cent. Turning from Counties to Towns, we find that, except in London, the largest number of Irish-born was enumerated in Liverpool, viz., 45,673, or a proportion of 6.7 per cent to the total population; the proportion in 1891 having been 9.1 per cent. In the Scotland Parliamentary Division of this City 8,624 persons of Irish birth were enumerated, or 16.3 per cent of the total population; in 1891 the proportion had been 20.2 per cent. In Manchester and Salford there were enumerated 28,194 persons of Irish birth, a falling off of 4,076 persons since 1891; in Leeds there were 6,443, in Bootle 5,857, and in Birkenhead 5,306; in no other Town in England and Wales did their number reach 5,000. It should be stated that, in addition to the number of Irish-born enumerated at the Census of England and Wales, there is in the summer months a large temporary influx into this Country of Irish Agricultural Labourers: these numbered according to the returns of the Irish Department of Agriculture, 10,899 in the summer of 1891, and 13,471 at the same period in 1901, showing an increase of 23.6 per cent. While the number of Irish-born resident in England and Wales has been declining, the much smaller number of English-born resident in Ireland has been increasing: these amounted in 1881 to 69,382; in 1891 to 74,523; and in 1901 to 76,977. The natives of Scotland enumerated in England and Wales in 1901 numbered 316,838 (163,443 males and 153,395 females), and were in the proportion of 9.7 per 1,000 of the entire population, this number showing au increase since the preceding Census of 34,567 persons, or of 12.2 per cent. The number of natives of Scotland living in England and Wales in 1851 was 130,087; at each succeeding Census there was a continuous increase in the number, for in 1861 it had risen to 169,202, in 1871 to 213,254, in 1881 to 253,528, in 1891 to 282,271, and in 1901 to 316,838; the proportion to the total population in England and Wales rose from 7.3 per 1,000 in 1851 to 9.7 per 1,000 in 1901. The rate of increase in the number of Scotch persons enumerated in England and Wales has greatly exceeded the rate of increase in the population of Scotland; for, while the number of Scotch persons in this Country increased, from 1851 to 1901, by 144 per cent., the population of Scotland increased in the same period by only 55 per cent. The number of persons of Scotch birth enumerated in this Country steadily increased from Census to Census, but the number of Scotch emigrants to places outside Europe which had risen to 278,626 in the intercensal period 1881-1891 fell to 187,905 in the period 1891-1901, and the number3
of natives of Scotland enumerated in the United States of America, which had risen continuously from 70,550 in 1850 to 242,231 in 1890, had at the Census of 1900 declined to 233,977. The local distribution of persons of Scotch birth in this Country followed very closely the distribution of the Irish: in London and in the adjoining Counties of Surrey, Kent, Middlesex and Essex there were enumerated 93,191, showing an increase since 1891 of 14t658 persons, or of 19 per cent.; in the Northern and mining Counties of Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham there were 68,908, compared with 64,838 in 1891; in Lancashire and Cheshire there were 66,165, showing only a trivial increase since 1891; in Yorkshire 24,094, as against 21,387 in 1891; and in Hampshire 9,973, compared with 7,243 in 1891, those enumerated in this County comprising many soldiers. In these 12 Counties there were enumerated 262,331 persons of Scotch birth, or 83 per cent. of the total of such persons resident in England and Wales. It is an interesting fact that these 12 Counties are identical with those in which the largest numbers of Irish-born were enumerated; this preference of the Scotch and the Irish for identical Counties or areas suggests that they are probably attracted thereto by similar considerations, viz., the greater certainty of gaining a livelihood in industrial and mining localities. Like the Irish, the Scotch are not attracted to the agricultural Counties, for the lowest proportions of persons of Scotch birth were found in the English Counties of Norfolk, Huntingdonshire, Cornwall, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, and in the Welsh Counties of Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, Merionethshire, Anglesey and Montgomeryshire; in no one of these mainly agricultural Counties did the proportion of natives of Scotland to total population exceed 3.3 per 1,000. For the proportion of those born in Scotland and enumerated in each County in England and Wales, see
Table 39 in Appendix A to this Report. In the large Towns, excluding London, the largest number of persons of Scotch birth was enumerated in the City of Liverpool, where 16,998 were resident at the date of the Census, or 25 per 1,000 of the total population, as compared with 29 per 1,000 in 1891. In Manchester and Salford there were enumerated 10,508 persons who were born in Scotland, the numbers in the two Towns being almost identical with those enumerated in 1891. In the four Northern towns of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Shields, there were at the date of the Census nearly 24,000 natives of Scotland, as compared with about 22,000 at the previous Census. It will be of interest to compare the numbers of Scotch and Irish enumerated in England and Wales. Although the highest numbers of Scotch and Irish were found in almost the same Counties, yet the former considerably outnumbered the latter in the three Northern and mining Counties of Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham, the aggregate number of the Scotch in these three Counties being 68,908, as compared with 38,480 Irish; since 1891 the Scotch have increased in this area by 6.3 per cent., while the Irish have decreased by 19.5 per cent. In London and the four adjoining Counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex, the Scotch numbered 78,533 in 1891 and 93,191 in 1901, and the Irish 92,969 in 1891 and 94,061 in 1901. Although the numbers in 1901 were nearly identical, the Scotch-born had increased by 18.7 per cent., and the Irish-born by only 1.2 per cent., during the past decennium. In Lancashire and Cheshire, the Scotch formed 13 per 1,000 of the total population and the Irish 31 per 1,000; while, however, the Scotch had increased from 65,056 in 1891 to 66,165 in 1901, the Irish had decreased from 184,495 to 163,569 during the same period. The natives of the Isle of Man and Channel Islands enumerated in England and Wales at the last Census numbered 35,763, of whom 16,435 were males and 19,328 were females. In 1851 the number of these Islanders enumerated in this Country was only 13,753, but the number has risen at each successive Census since that date: it was 18,423 in 1861; 25,655 in 1871; 29,316 in 1881; and 30,370 in 1891. This increase is the more notable as the aggregate population enumerated in the Isle of Man and Channel Islands had only increased by 5 per cent. during the past 50 years, whereas the number of their Natives enumerated in England and Wales more than doubled in that period. The Counties in which the largest numbers of Natives of these Islands were resident were Lancashire with 10,487, and the neighbouring County of Chester with 1,745; there were in London 5,549, and 3,769 in the adjoining Counties of Surrey, Kent, Middlesex and Essex; in Hampshire there were 2,993, and in Devonshire 1,587. The comparatively large numbers in Lancashire and Hampshire are partly accounted for by the steamship connections between those counties and the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, respectively. The persons born in the British Colonies and Dependencies who were enumerated in England and Wales numbered 136,092, of whom 60,463 were males and 75,629 were females. The number returned in 1851 was 33,688, and at each succeeding Census an increase has been recorded; the number rose to 51,572 in 1861, to 70,812 in 1871, to 94,399 in 1881, to 111,627 in 1891, and further to 136,092 in 1901, showing an increase since the previous Census of 22 per cent. Of these 136,092 persons, no fewer than 55,362, or 41 per cent., were born in India, Burmah or Ceylon, this number contrasting with 50,929 in 1891. The Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand contributed 25,999 persons to our population, as against 16,911 in 1891; Canada and Newfoundland 18,829, compared with 16,394 in 1891; The Cape of Good Hope and other Colonies in Africa 12,706, against 7,461 in 1891, the latter number being exclusive of persons born in the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony; the West Indies 8,680, against 8,689 in 1891; and Gibraltar and Malta 8,518, compared with 7,619 in 1891. This increase from Census to Census in the number of persons in this Country of Indian and Colonial birth may be ascribed in a great measure to the quick, regular and comparatively cheap communication now existing between the Colonies and the Mother Country. A summary of the Birth-places of the 32,527,843 persons enumerated in England and Wales shows that 32,184,461 were born in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies and Dependencies; if we add to this number 3,946 persons born at sea, nearly all of whom may be regarded as British Subjects, we arrive at a total of 32,188,407 of the population of England and Wales born within the limits of the British Empire. This number formed 99 per cent. of the total population, leaving 339,436 persons, or the comparatively insignificant proportion of 1 per cent., as the total of British Subjects, Naturalised British Subjects and Foreigners who were born in Foreign States, and were resident in England and Wales at the time of the Census. On the Schedule used at the Census of 1891 the instruction with reference to persons born in Foreign Countries was worded as follows:—"if born in Foreign parts write the particular State or Country, and if also a British Subject add British Subject or Naturalised British Subject as the case may be." When, however, this phraseology was considered prior to the Census of 1901, it was felt that an effort should be made to secure greater accuracy in the returns, and it was decided to alter the wording of the instruction on the Schedule to be used at the ensuing Census to the following:—"State the Birth-place of each Person,—if born in a Foreign Country, the name of the Country and whether the person be a British Subject, a Naturalised British Subject, or a Foreign Subject, specifying Nationality such as French, German, &c." Wherever the foregoing instructions were followed no difficulty occurred in the classification of such persons; it was found, however, that in many instances, no statement as to Nationality was made, and in these cases it was decided to classify all persons born in Foreign Countries who had distinctly British surnames (natives of the United States excepted) as British Subjects. This rule was the same as that adopted in Censuses previous to 1891; it is necessary, however, to point out that it was not adhered to at the Census of that year, when all persons born in Foreign Countries were classified as Foreign Subjects unless definitely stated to be British Subjects. This departure in 1891 doubtless led to an over-statement of Foreign Subjects and a corresponding under-statement of Foreign-born British Subjects. An examination of the numbers for the past three Censuses shows that there is good ground for this assumption. Persons born in Foreign Countries and classified as British Subjects or Naturalised British Subjects numbered 56,373 in 1881, decreased to 34,895 in 1891, and increased to 91,678 in 1901. The apparently abnormal increase in the numbers returned at the last Census may fairly be ascribed to (a) the more precise returns required in the Schedule of 1901 than in that of any previous Census and (b) the under-statement already alluded to in the numbers for 1891. Previous to the taking of the Census it was thought that many of the Jewish aliens in the East End of London, apprehensive of conscription abroad, of special taxation or of police espionage, might object to fill up the Census Schedule, or through inability to understand the form, might fill it up incorrectly. The Jewish Board of Guardians were therefore asked, as on former occasions, to prepare a Circular in Yiddish and German stating the objects of the Census and the desirability of making accurate returns. This Circular, on the back of which was printed a translation of the Census Schedule in Yiddish, was distributed with the Census Schedule to the foreign Jews resident in the East of London and in parts of the City of Manchester; the Chief Rabbi also courteously arranged for the nature and objects of the Census to be explained from the pulpits of the Synagogues. In addition to these precautions, the foreign Jewish quarter in the East End of London was mapped out into small districts, and the houses in each district were visited by a Member of a Committee of ladies and gentlemen, who gave assistance where required by explaining, and if necessary by filling up, the Schedule. It is confidently believed that these measures had the effect of obtaining approximately accurate returns from this class of the population in the East End of London. In view of the alteration of the method of classification in 1891 already alluded to, it will be necessary to observe caution when comparing the numbers of Foreigners enumerated in 1891 with those enumerated in 1901; and in order to get a more accurate measure of the progressive increase in the Foreign-born element in our population, it will be well to compare for a series of decennia the total numbers of Natives of Foreign Countries enumerated in England and Wales, irrespective of their nationalities. The following Table gives the total number of Persons born in Foreign Countries, and of these the number classified as "Foreign Subjects," together with the increase per cent., and the proportion of each class in 1,000 of the total population enumerated at each of the five Censuses 1861 to 1901. It will be seen that the increase of the Foreign-born population, irrespective of nationality, is proceeding very much more rapidly then the increase of the general population, and that the proportion per 1,000 of the total population, although still comparatively low in the entire Country, is twice as great as it was n 1861. It will be well now to consider the results of the abstracts of the last Census. Of the 32,527,843 persons enumerated in England and Wales, 339,436 or 10.4 per 1,000 were born in Foreign Countries; of these 339,436 persons, 77,653 were classified as British Subjects by birth and 14,025 as Naturalised British Subjects leaving 247,758 or 7.6 per 1,000 of the total population who, according to birth and nationality, were classified as Foreigners. The 77,653 persons classified as British Subjects comprised, in addition to those who had stated on the Schedules that they were of British Nationality, all those persons born in Foreign Countries (United States excepted) whose nationality was not stated but who had distinctly British surnames; while the 14,025 Naturalised British Subjects were all so described on the schedules. The countries that contributed the largest numbers of the foreign-born, who were classified as British Subjects or Naturalised British Subjects, were the United States of America with 24,587, Germany with 16,857, France with 10,979 and Russia (including Poland) with 10,501. An analysis of the distribution of the 247,758 Foreigners in England and Wales presents some striking features. Thus, no fewer than 135,377, or more than half, were enumerated in London, and a further 20,542 in the adjoining Counties of Surrey, Kent, Middlesex and Essex. In Lancashire there were 28,603, in Yorkshire 17,019, in the neighbouring Counties of Durham and Northumberland 9,455, and in Glamorganshire 6,517. In these ten Counties there were enumerated 217,513, or 88 per cent of the total Foreigners in England and Wales. Further, these Foreign Subjects were almost exclusively found in the industrial centres and in seaports, no fewer than 209,617, or 85 per cent of the total, being enumerated in London and in 84 other such towns. The highest proportion of Foreigners to the total population was in London, where it reached 30 per 1,000. It should be noted, however, that although these Foreigners were scattered throughout the Metropolis, a very large proportion, equal to 40 per cent of the whole, were enumerated in the Borough of Stepney. In the Registration Districts comprised within this Borough the Foreigners numbered 15,998 in 1881, increased to 32,284 in 1891, and further increased to 54,310 in 1901. The rapid increase is further exemplified by the fact that the proportions of Foreigners to the total population in those years, rose from 57 to 113 and 182 per 1,000 respectively. It is noteworthy that, of the total Foreigners enumerated in the Borough of Stepney, natives of Russia and Russian Poland constituted 42 per cent in 1881, 68 per cent in 1891 and 77 per cent in 1901. The proportion of Foreigners to the total population was also high in five other Metropolitan Boroughs, viz.: 96 per 1,000 in Holborn (over one-third of the Foreigners in this borough being natives of Italy), 65 per 1,000 in the City of Westminster, 42 per 1,000 in St Marylebone, and 36 and 35 per 1,000 respectively in Bethnal Green and St Pancras. In the large provincial towns the proportion of Foreigners to the total population was 22 per 1,000 in the city of Manchester and 21 per 1,000 in Tynemouth; then follow Cardiff, South Shields, Leeds, Grimsby, Kingston-upon-Hull, Liverpool and Bournemouth, with proportions ranging from 18 to 13 per 1,000, while Hornsey, Swansea and Willesden had proportions a little above 10 per 1,000. There were thus, including London, only thirteen Cities or Towns in England and Wales in which the proportion of Foreigners to the general population exceeded 10 per 1,000. In the Report of the Royal Commission on Alien Immigration, appointed in March, 1902, primarily to inquire into the character and extent of the evils which are attributed to the unrestricted immigration of Aliens, especially in the Metropolis, it is stated "that the greatest evils produced by the presence of the Alien Immigrants here are the overcrowding caused by them in certain districts of London, and the consequent displacement of the native Population." The strong tendency of Alien Immigrants to settle in certain localities is shown by the fact that 48 per cent. of the total Foreign population in England and Wales were resident in six Metropolitan Boroughs and in the three Cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. In this connection it may be well to point out that the figures relating to overcrowded tenements in Metropolitan Boroughs (see
Table 42 in Appendix A to this Report) show that with the single exception of the Borough of Finsbury, Stepney had the highest percentage of persons living under overcrowded4
conditions. In this Borough, which contained at the date of the Census a population of 298,600, of whom over 54,000 were Foreigners, nearly 100,000 persons, or 33 per cent. of the entire population, were living in an overcrowded condition, and in the Civil Parish of St. George in the East, one of the constituent parishes of the Borough, the proportion of overcrowding reached the high figure of 45 per cent. This overcrowding in Stepney can be demonstrated in another manner: the average number of persons per acre for the whole of London is 61, in the Borough of Stepney it is 169, while in three of the constituent parishes of the Borough — St. George in the East, Mile End New Town, and Spitalfields—it reaches 201, 308 and 328 respectively; it is a fair presumption, therefore, that the presence of the Alien element in this quarter of London is one of the main causes of the abnormal overcrowding. It has often been stated that the Alien Immigrants in this Country largely help to fill our Workhouses, Infirmaries, and Lunatic Asylums. In order to ascertain what measure of truth there is in such a general assertion, an examination has been made of the birth-places of the pauper inmates of the workhouse establishments belonging to the Parishes or Unions of Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, St. George in the East, Stepney, Mile End Old Town and Poplar. In these Eastern areas, which constitute the Metropolitan Boroughs of Bethnal Green, Poplar, Shoreditch and Stepney, there were enumerated 715,739 persons, of whom 62,843 were European Foreigners, mostly living under the poorest conditions. In the Workhouse establishments serving these areas, there were, at the date of the Census, 10,820 pauper inmates, of whom only 109 were European Foreigners. The proportions of indoor Paupers among the general population and among the European Foreigners were 15.1 and 1.7 per 1,000 respectively, the corresponding proportions in 1891 having been 13.5 and 2.8 respectively. The examination of the birth-places of the pauper inmates of the Imbecile and Lunatic Asylums under the control of the London County Council and Metropolitan Asylums Board presented some difficulty, as for obvious reasons the Superintendents of some of these Institutions were not always able to furnish information as to the Birthplaces of the Inmates; it was found, however, that in six of these large Asylums containing at the date of the Census 11,732 paupers, 261 or 22.2 per L,000 were born in European Foreign States. It is clear then that the Census Returns do not sustain the above allegation. Of the 247,758 Foreigners enumerated at the Census, 227,301 were born in Europe, showing an increase since 1891.of 35 per cent.; 1,245 were born in Asia, 462 in Africa, and 18,311 in America. In addition to these, 439 Foreigners failed to state their Country of birth. It will be seen from these figures that only the European Foreigners are of numerical importance, their numbers being equal to 92 per cent of the whole Foreign population. Natives of Russia and Russian Poland numbered 82,844, European or one-third of the total Foreign population, having increased by 37,770 since the Census of 1891. Natives of Germany stand second with 49,133, and those of France third with 20,467, the numbers of both these Nationalities showing slight decreases in the past decennium. Italians rank fourth in importance, with 20,332, more than double the number in 1891; and then in successive order, with numbers ranging from 10,000 to 4,000, natives of Austria and Hungary, Switzerland, Holland, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium. The total increase of European Foreigners in England and Wales during the past decennium amounted to 58,487 persons; of this number no fewer than 37,770, or 65 per cent., were of Russian nationality, and 10,423, or 18 per cent., were of Italian nationality. With regard to the great increase in the numbers of the natives of Russia, viz., from 3,789 in 1881 to 61,789 in 1901, the Report of the Alien Immigration Commission states that "the causes are partly economic and partly due to oppressive measures" in force against the Jews in Russia5
; in this connection it is significant that the numbers of natives of the three Balkan States—Servia, Roumania, and Bulgaria— increased from 734 in 1891 to 3,296 in 1901. The following Table, which gives the numbers of the natives of Russia, Russian Poland, Germany, France, and Italy enumerated in England and Wales at each of the five past Censuses, together with the increase or decrease per cent. at each Census, possesses special interest. It will be seen that, between 1881 and 1891, there was a large, increase in the numbers of Foreigners from every Country shown in the Table, while in the succeeding decennium the numbers of Foreigners from Russian Poland, Germany and France all slightly decreased; on the other hand, the natives of Italy more than doubled, and those of Russia nearly trebled during the last intercensal period. The sex and age distribution, and the proportion of the married, among the Foreigners Sex, Age enumerated in England and Wales, naturally differed considerably from those of the general population. Of the 247,758 Foreigners, 151,329 were males and 96,429 were females, or a proportion of 637 females to 1,000 males, which contrasts with 1068 to 1,000 in the general population of the Country. If, however, we exclude 16,992 male Foreigners returned as Seamen, the excess of male over female Foreigners is reduced from 54,900 to 37,908, and the proportion of females to males is raised from 637 to 718 per 1,000. It is interesting to note that, in the case of natives of France the females actually outnumber the males; while the proportion of females to males among Russian, Belgian, and Swiss Aliens was considerably in excess of the general average. Of the 151,329 Male Foreigners, 70,404, or 46.5 per cent., were husbands, and of the 96,429 Female Foreigners, 44,530, or 46.2 per cent., were wives. These proportions contrast with 35.7 and 34.0 per cent. respectively in the general population of the Country. The high ratio of the married among the Foreign population is largely due to the fact that, many of the children of Foreign parents were born in England and therefore are not classed in the Census Tables as Foreigners. The proportion of Foreigners under 15 years of age, namely, 9.3 per cent., is for the same reason very small in comparison with the proportion at that age in the general population of the Country, which is equal to 32.4 per cent.; on the other hand, the proportion from 15 to 65 years, namely, 87.7 per cent., is much greater than the proportion, in the general population, which is only 62.9 per cent., while at ages 65 years and upwards, the proportion is 3.0 per cent. as against 4.7 per cent. in the general population. Of the 227,301 European Aliens, 138,822 were Males; if from these we deduct 5,001 under 10 years of age, 10,922 retired or unoccupied, and 15,755 Seamen, mostly enumerated on vessels in Port on the night of the Census, there remains a total of 107,144 adult males, or a proportion of 10.7 per 1,000 of the corresponding section of the general population, capable of competing with our own working population on land. It; should be remembered that this number is somewhat overstated, since it includes many Foreigners who were only visitors in this Country at the time of the Census. The Census abstracts give particulars of the Occupations and Country of Birth of Foreigners in combination, and from these the following Table has been constructed, giving the principal occupations, in order of numerical importance, in which European Foreigners, Male and Female, were engaged at the last Census, together with the proportion of Foreigners to the total population of England and Wales engaged in each industry and the Nationalities of those furnishing the highest numbers. In addition, comparative figures are given for the Census of 1891, which, for reasons already stated, must be used with caution. European Foreign Sailors numbered 15,035 in 1891 against 15,755 in 1901. It should be borne in mind, however, that the Census takes account only of the numbers of persons on board vessels, whether British or Foreign, that happened to be in English or Welsh Ports on Census night, or that arrived in such Ports on the following day. As regards the number of Foreigners employed in our own Mercantile Marine, the returns furnished by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, show that of 172,528 Seamen, &c., excluding Lascars, employed at the date of the Census on British Seagoing Trading Vessels or on Fishing Vessels, 33,242 were born in Foreign parts; the corresponding numbers in 1891 having been 167,069 and 23,385 respectively. As previously stated, the greatest aggregation of Foreigners is in the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney. An examination of the Census returns for this area shows that, of the 28,999 Male European Foreigners enumerated within the Borough, 24,363 were engaged in occupations, and of this number 9,152, or nearly two-fifths, were Tailors and Clothiers, 2,806 were Bootmakers, &c., 1,378 were Cabinet Makers, 761 were Makers of Hats, &c., 709 were Sailors, 669 were engaged in Tobacco manufacture, and 633 were Costermongers or Hawkers. The following table shows, in summary form, the chief occupations followed by the European Foreigners enumerated in England and Wales. Having reviewed the occupations of the European Aliens in England and Wales there remain to be dealt with 20,457 other Foreigners; 16,668, or more than three-fourths, of these were natives of the United States; the Males numbered 9,832, of whom, 599 were Sailors, 489 were engaged in the Building Trades, 435 in Engineering and Machine Making, 319 were Coal-miners, and 273 General Labourers, while 224 returned themselves as Actors. Of the Females, 631 were engaged in Domestic Indoor Service. It is reasonable to assume that the sojourn in this Country of a large number of the natives of America was of a temporary character. Details of the Country of Birth, Condition as to Marriage, Ages and Occupations of all Foreigners enumerated in England and Wales are given in Tables XLVI-XLVIII, pages 260-281 of the Volume of Summary Tables relating to the Census of England and Wales. 1
In previous sections of the Report the term migration has been used as representing emigration and immigration—in other words, the movement of population out of and into the country, and in dealing with the population of England and Wales as a whole these were the only forms of migration which it was necessary to consider. In the present section, however, it becomes necessary to understand the term as including also the movement of population from one county to another. The term "migration" will therefore be used with this extended signification. 2
See
United States Census Report, 1900. Vol. I., page clxxi. 3
See
United States Census Report, 1900, Vol. I., page clxxi. 4
For definition of the standard of overcrowding, see
first paragraph, page 40, of this Report. 5
See
page 3 of the Report of the Royal Commission on Alien Immigration.VI.—BIRTHPLACES OF THE POPULATION.
1. General Composition of the Population.
WHERE BORN.
PERSONS ENUMERATED.
PROPORTION per 100,000 persons
enumerated.1881.
1891.
1901.
1881.
1891.
1901.
Total Enumerated Population
25,974,439
29,002,525
32,527,843
100,000
100,000
100,000
Born in:—
England and Wales
24,855,822
27,882,629
31,269,203
95,694
96,139
96,131
Other Parts
1,118,617
1,119,896
1,258,640
4,306
3,861
3,869
Scotland
253,528
282,271
316,838
976
973
974
Ireland
562,374
458,315
426,565
2,165
1,580
1,311
Islands in the British Seas
29,316
30,370
35,763
113
105
110
British Colonies and India
94,399
111,627
136,092
363
385
418
Foreign Countries
174,372
233,008
339,436
671
803
1,044
Ships at Sea
4,628
4,305
3,946
18
15
12
2. Natives of England and Wales.
Loss of population in Counties by Migration
Gain of population in Counties by migration
Registration Counties.
Gain by Migration.
1891-1901.Registration Counties.
Gain by Migration.
1891-1901.Persons.
Proportion
per 1,000,
to 1891
population.Persons.
Proportion
per 1,000,
to 1891
population.Essex
170,693
224
Yorkshire—West Riding
13,505
6
Middlesex
156,824
273
Nottinghamshire
13,053
26
Surrey
77,089
134
Leicestershire
5,932
16
Glamorganshire
41,093
59
Cheshire
4,394
6
Lancashire
40,951
11
Sussex
4,261
8
Kent
35,830
44
Carnarvonshire
2,812
23
Hampshire
30,096
45
Yorkshire—East Riding (with York)
1,568
4
Northumberland
22,509
44
Hertfordshire
1,119
5
Worcestershire
20,281
48
Radnorshire*
1,037
60
*
At the date of the Census the population of the Registration County of Radnor was augmented by a large number of men temporarily engaged in the construction of new Waterworks for the Corporation of Birmingham. These men together with their families account for the abnormal increase of population.
Migration of Males and Females
Relation between Birthplaces and Residence
Rutlandshire
41.4
Shropshire
56.1
Radnorshire
47.7
Berkshire
56.3
Huntingdonshire
48.2
Cambridgeshire
56.6
Herefordshire
52.5
Hertfordshire
56.7
Oxfordshire
52.6
Montgomeryshire
56.8
Brecknockshire
54.7
Wiltshire
57.8
Buckinghamshire
55.3
Flintshire
58.0
Westmorland
55.7
Dorsetshire
58.3
3. Natives of Ireland.
Number in England and Wales
Local Distribution of Irish in England and Wales
4. Natives of Scotland.
Number in England and Wales
Local Distribution of Scotch in England and Wales
Comparison between numbers of Scotch-born and Irish-born
5. Natives of other parts of the British Empire.
Natives of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
Natives of Colonies and Dependencies
6. Persons born in Foreign Countries.
Instructions on Occupier's Schedule
British Subjects and Naturalised British Subjects born in Foreign Countries
Jewish Aliens
Foreign Subjects
Census
Years.Persons Enumerated in
England and Wales.Persons born in Foreign Countries who were
enumerated in England and Wales.Total irrespective of Nationality.
Classified as Foreign Subjects.
Persons.
Increase
per cent.Number
Enumerated.Increase
per cent.Proportion
per 1,000
of total
Population.Number
Enumerated.Increase
per cent.Proportion
per 1,000
of total
Population.1861
20,066,224
—
101,832
—
5.1
84,090
—
4.2
1871
22,712,266
13.2
139,445
36.9
6.1
100,638
19.7
4.4
1881
25,974,439
14.4
174,372
25.0
6.7
117,999
17.3
4.5
1891
29,002,525
11.7
233,008
33.6
8.0
198,113
67.9
6.8
1901
32,527,843
12.2
339,436
45.7
10.4
247,758
25.1
7.6
Local Distribution of Foreign Subjects
Overcrowding of Foreigners
Foreigners in Workhouses and Lunatic Asylums
Natives of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America
—
1861
1871
1881
1891
1901
Russia1,633
2,513
3,789
23,626
61,789
Increase per cent
—
53.9
50.8
523.5
161.5
Russian Poland3,616
7,056
10,679
21,448
21,055
Increase or Decrease per cent
—
95.1
51.3
100.8
-1.8
Germany21,438
32,823
37,301
50,599
49,133
Increase or Decrease per cent
—
53.1
13.6
35.7
-2.9
France12,989
17,906
14,596
20,797
20,467
Increase or Decrease per cent
—
37.9
-18.5
42.5
-1.6
Italy4,489
5,063
6,504
9,909
20,332
Increase per cent
—
12.8
28.5
52.4
105.2
Foreigners. Sex, Age, and Condition as to Marriage
Occupations of Foreigners
Occupations, or Groups of Occupations.
No. of European Foreigners.
Increase per cent., 1891-1901.
Of 100 persons engaged in certain industries, the proportion who were European Foreigners, 1901.
Nationalities with highest
numbers in 1901.1891.
1901.
MALES.
Tailors, Clothiers
11,637
19,955
71.5
14.5
Russia (10,820), Russian Poland (4,599), Germany (1,963), Austria and Hungary (1,090)
Sailors
15,035
15,755
4.8
16.2
Norway (3,916), Sweden (2,447), Germany (1,918), Spain (1,313), France (1,230), Russia (1,108), Denmark (1,083)
Waiters and others engaged in Inn and Hotel Service (not domestic)
4,570
7,746
69.5
4.7
Germany (2,952), Italy (1,841), Switzerland (901), Austria and Hungary (839), France (518)
Cabinet Makers, Upholsterers, Furniture Dealers, French Polishers
2,534
5,405
113.3
5.2
Russia (2,911), Germany (825), Russian Poland (527)
Boot, Shoe and Slipper Makers and Dealers
3,608
5,108
41.6
2.6
Russia (3,060), Russian Poland (1,000), Germany (410)
Commercial or Business Clerks
3,994
4,839
21.2
1.6
Germany (2,101), France (596), Switzerland (508)
Domestic Indoor Servants
1,347
4,748
252.5
7.4
Germany (1,330), Italy (1,185), Switzerland (930), France (562)
Bread, Biscuit, Cake, Jam, Preserve, Sweet, &c., Makers and Dealers
3,509
4,478
27.6
4.1
Germany (2,412), Italy (789), Russia (344)
Costermongers, Hawkers, Steet Sellers
1,722
4,363
153.4
9.3
Italy (2,670), Russia (1,081)
Hairdressers, Wigmakers
1,721
3,059
77.7
9.0
Germany (1,481), Russian Poland (320), Russia (282), Austria and Hungary (269)
Musicians, Music Masters, Singers and Art, Music, Theatre Service
2,556
3,019
18.1
11.6
Italy (1,828), Germany (598)
Cooks (not Domestic)
1,339
2,228
66.4
32.3
France (867), Italy (604), Switzerland (386), Germany (251)
Butchers, Meat Salesmen, Slaughterers
1,479
1,681
13.7
1.5
Germany (1,255), Russia (211)
FEMALES.
Domestic Indoor Servants
7,912
11,808
49.2
0.9
Germany (4,432), France (2,435), Switzerland (1,701), Russia (565), Italy (522)
Tailoresses, Clothiers
3,098
4,895
58.0
4.0
Russia (2,848), Russian Poland (951), Germany (501)
Teachers
3,903
2,927
-25.0
1.7
France (1,209), Germany (941), Switzerland (391)
Milliners, Dressmakers, Staymakers, Shirtmakers, and Machinists, undefined
2,112
3,094
46.5
0.6
France (1,014), Russia (764), Germany (414)
European Foreigners
—
Country of Birth.Principal Occupations.
Males.
Females.
RUSSIA (including Russian Poland)
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 39,108. Females 8,231
Tailors and Clothiers (15,419); Boot, &c., Makers and Dealers (4,060); Cabinet Makers, &c. (3,438); Costermongers, Hawkers, Street Sellers (1,275); Sailors (1,114).
Tailoresses and Clothiers (3,799); Milliners, Dressmakers, Shirtmakers, Staymakers, &c. (973); Domestic Indoor Servants (761); Hat and Cap Makers, not Straw (519).
GERMANY
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 27,893. Females 7,860.
Waiters and others engaged in Inn and Hotel Service, (2,952); Bread, Biscuit, Cake, Jam, &c., Makers and Dealers (2,412); Commercial Clerks (2,101); Tailors and Clothiers (1,963); Sailors (1,918); Hairdressers (1,481); Domestic Indoor Servants (1,330); Butchers, Slaughterers (1,255).
Domestic Indoor Servants (4,432); Teachers (941); Tailoresses and Clothiers (501); Milliners, Dressmakers &c. (414).
FRANCE
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 8,095. Females 5,971.
Sailors (1,230); Cooks, not Domestic (867); Commercial Clerks (596); Domestic Indoor Servants (562); Waiters and others engaged in Inn and Hotel Service (518).
Domestic Indoor Servants (2,435), Teachers, (1,209), Milliners, Dressmakers, &c. (1,014).
ITALY
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 13,822. Females 1,615
Costermongers, Hawkers and Street Sellers (2,670); Waiters and others engaged in Inn and Hotel Service (1,841); Musicians, Music Masters, Singers, and Art, Music. Theatre Service (1,828); Domestic Indoor Servants (1,185).
Domestic Indoor Servants (522), Art, Music, Theatre Service (256), Costermongers, Hawkers, Street Sellers (154), Musicians, Music Mistresses, Singers (153).
SWEDEN, NORWAY and DENMARK
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 11,665. Females 1,522
Sailors (7,446); Commercial Clerks (427); Tailors and Clothiers (427).
Domestic Indoor Servants (998).
AUSTRIA and HUNGARY
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 6,518. Females 958.
Tailors and Clothiers (1,090); Waiters and others engaged in Inn and Hotel Service (839).
Domestic Indoor Servants (278); Tailoresses and Clothiers (218).
SWITZERLAND
Numbers engaged in Occupations, Makes 4,581. Femakes 2,446
Domestic Indoor Servants (930); Waiters and others engaged in Inn and Hotel Service (901); Commercial Clerks (508).
Domestic Indoor Servants (1,701); Teachers (391).
HOLLAND
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Makes 3,652. Females 617.
Sailors (772); Tobacco Manufacturers (363).
Domestic Indoor Servants (188).
BELGIUM
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Makes 2,067. Females 834.
Sailors (442); Tobacco Manufacturers (99); Commercial Clerks (96); Tailors (91).
Domestic Indoor Servants (351).
SERVIA, ROUMANIA and BULGARIA
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 1,445. Females 369.
Tailors and Clothies (334); Cabinet Makers, &c. (166).
Tailoresses (156); Milliners, Dressmakers, &c. (90)
SPAIN and PORTUGAL
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 2,173. Females 185.
Sailors (1,464).
Domestic Indoor Service (96)
TURKEY
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Males 998. Females 72.
Merchants or Brokers (137); Sailors (119); Commercial Clerks (78).
—
GREECE
Numbers engaged in Occupations. Makes 882. Females 23.
Sailors (466).
—