Genealogy Chat

Hi Susan, I've found a difference in the date of birth of 18 years for one of my relatives on the 1881 and 1891 census. (The rest of the family and address was the same). When I checked against other records it turned out that it was the 1881 that was wrong - I think this can be quite often the case. Hannah

Hi, Susan, Age differences do happen. One of my ancestors is aged 16 on the 71 census but her marriage cert in 70 states her age as 20!!! So there you go. Cheerio Joyce

I have just been looking at an original census image from 1901 and if I didn't already know that the person I was looking for was 55, I might have misread her age as 25, 53, 23 or 35 or 32! Helen

It's best to check all sources, other censuses and birth records. I would always view marriage ages with suspicion as large age difference was frowned upon and no checks were done. Bob

Thanks for the replies. I am fairly convinced the census is inaccurate. I have come across age discrepancies before but it usually has only been one or two years.

Hi Susan. This is not unusual, it depends a lot on who answered the door on the day of the Census. and gave the information to the Census person. ( Not necessarily the Owner or head of the household) Some census people were illiterate themselves, and made errors. In some cases,a lot of people didn't know where they were born/bapt let alone know how old they were. You can imagine a young 12 year old answering the door to the census person. How old's Mum? O'h bout 30? How old's Dad? Ummm, bout 36. It did happen, because some parents couldn't read nor write, and were Illiterate themselves. So i wouldn't pay to much attention to the Census, and use it as a guide only. If you have the Marriage Cert. then this is a much more formal Doc: Hope this helps. Tony.

I always take ages on a census with a pinch of salt and use it as a guide, so if all the other information matches up i would say you have the right people. Steve.

I am convinced I have found my great great grandparents James and Mary Donovan 26 Mary Ann Street ages 35 and 26 plus their son John age 1. I ordered their marriage certificate which took place on 2nd May 1878 which gives their ages as 29 and 28! Is this usual to see such an age difference? I have other evidence that these are the right people i.e. their daughter Mary Ann Donovan birth cert, and John's complete army service records which gives parents names and siblings.