Glasgow City Directory info not matching Census

[Kelownagurl]

Hi all,

I recently found most (all?) of the old Glasgow city post-office directories online at archive.org but I'm struggling to find any of my ancestors in the books despite having street addresses from the censuses in 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901.  I have checked years on both sides of the census years, and have searched by name AND my street name to no avail. In many cases, I find the correct street and address but a different name is living there.

Does anyone have experience in using the city directories?  I'm wondering if only the name of the OWNER of the home is listed, and not the tenants?

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks!
Barb

[KGarrad]

Remember that these directories were put together manually - so the data could be a year or two out of date by the time it is published?

Also note (quoted from NLS website):

Who was included

 The directories' coverage of people varies strongly between the different publishers and local areas.

Most of the directories up until the mid 19th century would only include the principal inhabitants of a location, leaving the poor in particular unmentioned.

Women rarely featured in the lists, as usually only the head of a household would be recorded.

In addition, people usually had to pay a small fee to be recorded in the directories. While the gentry, clergy, major tradesman, manufacturers, shop owners and other professionals are likely listed, their employees or small traders and craftsmen are often omitted. Laborers and servants are hardly recorded at all.

[Kelownagurl]

Remember that these directories were put together manually - so the data could be a year or two out of date by the time it is published?

Yes I totally agree.  However I've been looking at the years 2 years before and after the census as well.  I will keep plugging away I guess.

[BumbleB]

Perhaps you found the answer in your initial post - owner rather than tenant 

[KGarrad]

I amended my previous post!
Have a read of the additional info.

P.S. Christmas Smilies are here!!

[Kelownagurl]

Ah, well that makes sense then.  Definitely not upper class as far as I know.

Too bad though.  I was amazed at the info I found on my family in the Vancouver directories - occupations and addresses for every year from 1870's - 1950.

[Millmoor]

Have you tried to find them on the valuation rolls? You can search valuation rolls on Scotland's People. Another useful source for in between census years are  electoral rolls- those for Glasgow have been digitised and are on Ancestry.

William

[Kelownagurl]

Have you tried to find them on the valuation rolls? You can search valuation rolls on Scotland's People. Another useful source for in between census years are  electoral rolls- those for Glasgow have been digitised and are on Ancestry.

William

Thanks for the reminder.  I did try the valuation rolls but couldn't find anything definitely however I just checked the electoral rolls on Ancestry and they were helpful - found one ancestor 4 times, at two addresses previously unknown.