Recording census details

[stewpot72]

How did householders around the 19th century provide details to enumerators when a great many of them couldn't even write their own name? The National Archives states "an enumerator delivered a form to each household in the country for them to complete. The heads of household were instructed to give details of everyone who slept in that dwelling on census night,,,".

[nanny jan]

Perhaps a neighbour or the enumerator filled in the details.      That could explain some unusual spellings of birth places.

[aghadowey]

My grandfather's grandmother was unable to write to fill in forms (more likely due to old age/eyesight rather than literacy since I know she and her sisters were all at school until around 12 years old) and after 1901 census her Will was signed with mark. However, the 1901 census return has 'her' handwriting and very lovely signature on the form (other member of the household was her blind son). Strangely enough, her brother in the next house has the same handwriting so it's fairly obvious who filled out that form for her.

[Tickettyboo]

Quite often children had attended/ were still attending school and were able to read and write, so maybe they completed the form (I've seen a good few 1911 ones where a son or daughter signed the form). Otherwise, as others have said, a neighbour or the enumerator.

Boo