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 West Riding RegC	Rotherham RegD/PLU

OCCUPATIONS.	Males. [1]	Females. [2]
1. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE GENERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY.	125	10
Civil Service (officers and clerks)	16	5
Civil Service (messengers, &c.)	20	-
Police	61	-
Municipal, Parish, Union, District, Officer	21	5
Other Local or County Official	7	-
2. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.	13	-
Army Officer (effective/retired)	1	-
Soldier and Non-commissioned officer	4	-
Militia, Yeomanry, Volunteers	1	-
Army Pensioner	6	-
Navy Officer (effective/retired)	1	-
3. PERSONS ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS (WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES).	425	337
Clergymen (Established Church)	29	-
Roman Catholic Priest	2	1
Minister, Priest of other religious bodies	19	-
Missionary, Scripture Reader, Itinerant preacher	3	-
Theological Student	8	-
Church, chapel, cemetery - officer, servant	12	4
Barrister, Solicitor	24	-
Law Student	7	-
Law Clerk, and others connected with the law	60	-
Physician, Surgeon, General Practitioner	30	-
Dentist	3	-
Medical Student, Assistant	11	-
Midwife	-	8
Subordinate Medical Service	4	41
Schoolmaster	115	227
Teacher, Professor, Lecturer	2	34
School Service, and others connected with teaching	8	1
Author, Editor, Journalist	5	-
Reporter, Short-hand Writer	2	-
Persons engaged in Scientific Pursuits	1	-
Civil Engineer	6	-
Mining Engineer	23	-
Land, House, Ship, Surveyor	3	-
Engraver (artist)	2	-
Architect	12	-
Musician, Music Master	18	18
Art Student	3	-
Photographer	4	-
Actor	1	-
Performer, Showman, Exhibition, Service	7	3
Billiard, Cricket & other Games, Service	1	-
4. PERSONS ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC OFFICES OR SERVICES.	259	2,524
Domestic Coachman, Groom	103	1
Domestic Gardener	59	-
Domestic Indoor Servant	69	2,277
Lodge, Gate, Park Keeper (not Government)	3	1
Inn, Hotel Servant	19	25
College, Club Service	4	2
Office Keeper (not Government)	-	3
Cook (not domestic)	-	1
Charwoman	-	122
Washing and Bathing Service	-	85
Hospital and Institution Service	1	6
Others engaged in Service	1	1
5. PERSONS ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONS.	473	9
Merchant	1	1
Broker, Agent, Factor	21	1
Auctioneer, Appraiser, Valuer, House Agent	12	-
Accountant	27	-
Salesman, Buyer (not otherwise specified)	-	3
Commercial Traveller	39	-
Commercial Clerk	330	3
Bank Service	13	-
Life, House, Ship &c., Insurance Service	30	1
6. PERSONS ENGAGED IN CONVEYANCE OF MEN, GOODS, AND MESSAGES.	1,025	11
Railway Engine Driver, Stoker	68	-
Railway Guard	30	1
Pointsman, Level Crossing Man	41	1
Other Railway Officials and Servants	280	-
Toll Collector, Turnpike Gate Keeper	3	-
Omnibus, Coach, Cab, Owner - Livery Stable Keeper	6	-
Cabman, Flyman, Coachman (not domestic)	44	-
Carman, Carrier, Carter, Haulier	286	2
Tramway Companies' Service	1	-
Inland Navigation Service	14	-
Bargeman, Lighterman, Waterman	123	3
Seaman (Merchant Service)	21	-
Warehouseman (not Manchester)	23	4
Meter, Weigher	6	-
Messenger, Porter, Watchman (not Railway or Government)	75	-
Telegraph, Telephone Service	4	-
7. PERSONS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE.	1,453	55
Farmer, Grazier	261	25
Farmer's, Grazier's - Son, Grandson, Brother, Nephew	88	-
Farm Bailiff	25	-
Agricultural Labourer, Farm Servant, Cottager	912	29
Shepherd	7	-
Land Drainage Service (not in towns)	1	-
Agricultural Machine - Proprietor, Attendant	7	-
Woodman	26	-
Nurseryman, Seedsman, Florist	4	-
Gardener (not domestic)	122	1
8. PERSONS ENGAGED ABOUT ANIMALS.	119	1
Horse Proprietor, Breeder, Dealer	1	-
Groom, Horse-keeper, Horse-breaker	63	-
Veterinary Surgeon, Farrier	8	-
Cattle, Sheep, Pig - Dealer, Salesman	11	-
Drover	2	-
Gamekeeper	33	-
Dog, Bird, Animal - Keeper, Dealer	1	1
9. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN BOOKS, PRINTS, AND MAPS.	69	7
Publisher, Bookseller, Librarian	7	3
Music-Publisher, Seller, Printer	1	-
Bookbinder	6	3
Printer	35	-
Newspaper Agent, News Room Keeper	10	1
Lithographer, Lithographic Printer	10	-
10. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.	567	15
Engine, Machine Maker	72	1
Millwright	16	-
Fitter, Turner (Engine and Machine)	158	1
Boiler Maker	56	2
Spinning and Weaving Machine Maker	1	-
Agricultural Machine and Implement Maker	82	-
Tool Maker, Dealer	7	-
Cutler, Scissors Maker	21	3
File Maker	83	7
Saw Maker	4	-
Domestic Implement Maker	5	-
Watch Maker, Clock Maker	29	-
Electrical Apparatus Maker	3	-
Weighing and Measuring Apparatus Maker	26	1
Surgical Instrument Maker	1	-
Gunsmith, Gun Manufacturer	1	-
Die, Seal, Coin, Medal Maker	2	-
11. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN HOUSES, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIONS.	1,310	15
Builder	32	-
Carpenter, Joiner	407	1
Bricklayer	205	1
Mason	288	1
Slater, Tiler	31	1
Plasterer, Whitewasher	49	-
Paperhanger	2	-
Plumber	74	1
Painter, Glazier	116	4
Cabinet Maker	66	5
French Polisher	2	-
Furniture Broker, Dealer	9	1
Locksmith, Bellhanger	1	-
Gas Fitter	12	-
House and Shop Fittings - Maker, Dealer	8	-
Wood Carver	3	-
Carver, Gilder	4	-
Animal, Bird &c. Preserver, Naturalist	1	-
12. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS.	242	1
Coachmaker	15	-
Railway Carriage, Railway Wagon, Maker	103	-
Wheelwright	76	-
Others	25	-
Saddler, Harness, Whip Maker	23	1
13. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN SHIPS AND BOATS.	4	-
Ship, Boat, Barge Builder	2	-
Shipwright, Ship Carpenter (ashore)	2	-
14. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDS.	64	2
Ink, Blacking, Colour Substance Manufacture	1	1
Chemist, Druggist	32	-
Manufacturing Chemist	28	-
Alkali Manufacture	3	1
15. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TOBACCO AND PIPES.	8	5
Tobacco Manufacture, Tobacconist	8	5
16. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN FOOD AND LODGING.	918	146
Innkeeper, Hotel Keeper, Publican	118	21
Lodging, Boarding House Keeper	1	14
Coffee, Eating House, Keeper	2	3
Maltster	30	-
Brewer	36	-
Beerseller, Ale, Porter, Cider Dealer	25	8
Cellarman	5	-
Wine, Spirit - Merchant, Agent	12	1
Milkseller, Dairyman	24	2
Butcher, Meat Salesman	201	6
Provision Curer, Dealer	23	2
Poulterer, Game Dealer	1	2
Fishmonger	28	2
Corn, Flour, Seed Merchant, Dealer	7	-
Corn Miller	47	-
Baker	12	5
Confectioner, Pastrycook	20	16
Greengrocer, Fruiterer	51	8
Mustard, Vinegar, Spice, Pickle Maker, Dealer	-	1
Sugar Refiner	-	1
Grocer. Tea, Coffee, Chocolate Maker, Dealer	263	53
Ginger Beer, Mineral Water Manufacturer, Dealer	12	1
17. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TEXTILE FABRICS.	101	43
Woollen Cloth Manufacture	1	-
Silk, Silk Goods, Manufacture	-	4
Cotton, Cotton Goods Manufacture	8	7
Flax, Linen - Manufacturer, Dealer	2	1
Lace Manufacturer, Dealer	-	4
Rope, Twine, Cord - Maker, Dealer	10	-
Weaver (undefined)	-	2
Dyer, Printer, Scourer, Bleacher, Calenderer (undefined)	2	2
Factory Hand (textile, undefined)	3	-
Carpet, Rug Manufacture	2	-
Draper, Linen Draper, Mercer	73	23
18. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN DRESS.	322	759
Hatter, Hat Manufacture	6	1
Straw - Hat, Bonnet, Plait Manufacture	-	5
Tailor	107	24
Milliner, Dressmaker, Staymaker	2	679
Shirt Maker, Seamstress	1	26
Hosiery Manufacture	1	2
Hosier, Haberdasher	6	8
Glover, Glove Maker	1	-
Shoe, Boot - Maker, Dealer	159	10
Patten, Clog Maker	12	1
Wig Maker, Hair Dresser	25	-
Umbrella, Parasol, Stick - Maker, Dealer	2	2
Old Clothes Dealer, and others	-	1
19. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.	22	6
Tallow Chandler, Candle, Grease Manufacture	2	-
Manure Manufacture	1	-
Bone, Horn, Ivory, Tortoise-shell - Worker, Dealer	1	-
Furrier, Skinner	3	1
Tanner, Fellmonger	3	-
Currier	6	1
Leather Goods, Portmanteau, Bag, Strap &c., Maker, Dealer	2	-
Hair, Bristle - Worker, Dealer	-	2
Brush, Broom, Maker	4	2
20. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.	143	3
Oil Miller, Oil Cake - Maker, Dealer	43	-
Oil and Colourman	2	-
Japanner	2	-
India Rubber, Gutta Percha - Worker, Dealer	1	-
Willow, Cane, Rush Worker, Dealer, Basketmaker	5	1
Hay, Straw (not plait), Chaff, Cutter, Dealer	7	-
Timber, Wood - Merchant, Dealer	20	-
Sawyer	35	-
Wood Turner, Box Maker	4	-
Cooper, Hoop Maker, Bender	15	-
Stationer, Law Stationer	8	1
Paper Box, Paper Bag Maker	-	1
Others	1	-
21. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS MINERAL SUBSTANCES.	11,273	154
Coal Miner	5,948	21
Ironstone Miner	37	-
Miner, in other or undefined Minerals	42	-
Mine Service	53	-
[Haulier] [not in Census Report but in codebook]	1	-
Coal Merchant	25	-
Coalheaver	24	-
Coke, Charcoal, Peat - Cutter, Burner, Dealer	47	5
Gas Works Service	37	1
Stone Quarrier	161	-
Stone Cutter, Dresser, Dealer	34	-
Limeburner	3	-
Well Sinker, Borer	21	-
Brick, Tile - Maker, Burner, Dealer	97	-
Paviour	1	-
Road Labourer	20	-
Railway Contractor	11	-
Platelayer	64	-
Railway Labourer, Navvy	53	-
Earthenware, China, Porcelain, Manufacture	203	83
Glass Manufacture	261	3
Earthenware, China, Glass Dealer	7	1
Salt Maker, Dealer	2	-
Waterworks Service	5	1
Goldsmith, Silversmith, Jeweller	9	1
Others	1	-
[Iron Manufacture]	2,297	18
[Steel Manufacture]	262	1
Blacksmith	376	-
Whitesmith	13	-
Nail Manufacture	53	4
Anchor, Chain Manufacture	5	-
Ironmonger. Hardware Dealer, Merchant	42	5
Other Iron and Steel Manufacture	574	1
[Coppersmith]	1	-
Tin, Tin Plate, Tin Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	15	-
Lead, Leaden Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	18	-
Metal Refiner, Worker, Turner, Dealer	14	1
Brass, Bronze Manufacture. Brazier	384	4
Metal Burnisher, Lacquerer	2	3
White Metal, Plated Ware, Manufacture. Pewterer	8	1
Wire Maker, Worker, Weaver, Drawer	22	-
Bolt, Nut, Rivet, Screw, Staple Maker	8	-
Lamp, Lantern, Candlestick Maker	11	-
Others	1	-
22. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN GENERAL OR UNSPECIFIED COMMODITIES.	1,834	100
General Shopkeeper, Dealer	25	49
Pawnbroker	36	1
Costermonger, Huckster, Street Seller	39	15
Manufacturer, Manager, Superintendant (undefined)	20	1
Contractor (undefined)	15	-
General Labourer	1,202	4
Engine Driver, Stoker, Fireman (not railway, marine or agricultural)	365	1
Artizan, Mechanic (undefined)	77	14
Apprentice (undefined)	12	1
Factory Labourer (undefined)	39	5
Machinist, Machine Worker (undefined)	4	9
23. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN REFUSE MATTERS.	21	1
Town Drainage Service	1	-
Chimney Sweep, Soot Merchant	15	-
Scavenger, Crossing Sweeper	1	-
Rag Gatherer, Dealer	4	1
24. PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS.	190	1,728
Persons returned by Property, Rank &c. and not special occupation	190	1,728
[UNKNOWN OCCUPATION]	264	12,839
[Occupation recorded but of unknown meaning]	7	3
[Blank field, or illegible]	257	12,836

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".

Click on the triangles for all about a particular number.

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.)