Requirements of a Census Enumerator (General)

by ChrisW , Saturday, April 12, 2008, 12:33 (6078 days ago) @ unknown

Taken from www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/famhist/genealgy/census.htm - 17k -

Some study has been done on identifying the census enumerators as they were obviously key players- the Census Office had a clear picture of what constituted a suitable candidate:

The enumerator, in order to fulfil his duties properly, must be
a person of intelligence and activity; he must read and write well, and have some Knowledge of arithmetic: he must not be infirm or of such weak health as may render him unable to undergo the requisite exertion: he should not be younger than eighteen years of age, nor older than sixty-five: he must be temperate, orderly and respectable, and be such a person as is likely to conduct himself with strict propriety, and to deserve the good-will of the inhabitants of his district. He should also I be well acquainted with the district in which he will be required to act and it will be an additional recommendation if, his occupations have been in any degree of similar kind.
taken from Mills and Schurer

Whilst from Scotlands People www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=554&1262 - 17k -

"Census enumerators were usually schoolmasters, who were deemed best equipped for the task".

From British-Genealogy.com www.british-genealogy.com/resources/census/index.htm - 17k

"It is a common myth that a census enumerator knocked on doors and asked who was present, and then wrote down the details, often mis-hearing, or mis-spelling. No. Sure, there may have been isolated examples of that having been done, but this is very rare!

During the week following census night, the enumerator visited all of the houses, and collected the forms. (The Schedules), and then he collated them, and then wrote them up into his enumerator's book, in schedule number order. The enumerator may have found it difficult to interpret the handwriting on the schedule, and he may have mis-transcribed some details".

From Central Statistics Office Ireland 2006 Census www.cso.ie/census/main_duties_enum.htm - 25k

Enumerators are responsible for the delivery and collection of the census forms in local areas. They will be employed for a period of 8-10 weeks between March-May 2006 on a part-time basis. The work will be conducted mainly in the evenings and weekends. The work involves direct contact with the public. It requires tact, consideration and patience to win the confidence and co-operation of householders. The work may require a considerable amount of walking and/or climbing of stairs. The area assigned to each Enumerator is known as an EA (Enumeration Area). It will usually comprise about 350 households.