For the first time on Ancestry®, you can find personal details about what life was like for your family in 1921 in England and Wales.
The arrival of this collection on Ancestry® opens up the possibility of finding more stories about your ancestors as you discover where they were and how they lived in 1921 - including their handwritten entry.
Search for your ancestors in our military records
A snapshot of what life was like
A snapshot of what life was like
A census is usually conducted every 10 years to count the population of a country, and gives a detailed picture of the households at that moment in time - from their names and ages to their marital status and occupation.
The 1921 Census contains information on nearly 38 million people who were living in England and Wales at the time. As the 1931 census was destroyed by fire, and the 1941 census did not take place because of WWII, this is the last census that will be made available until as early as 2051.
What was going on in England and Wales?
The 1921 England and Wales Census was taken after WWI, when hundreds of thousands of men had been lost. As a result, there were a high number of widowed women in this census - and it showed that overall, there were 1.7 million more women than men living in England and Wales at the time of the census.
This census was the first to show name of your employer and address or location of work. During WWI, millions of women had taken on roles that had been traditionally reserved for men. The census shows that many women continued this work post-war, seeking economic freedom or supporting a household after the loss of a husband.
The 1920s was a period of radical change. While times were still hard for many families after World War I, it was also an incredible era for fashion, art, and culture. If you would like to discover more of what life was like in 1921, you can visit our blog, containing fascinating updates about the 1920s.
Did your ancestors move from England and Wales after 1921?
In 1922, The Empire Settlement Act lead to more than 200,000 people settling in Australia and 165,000 in Canada. Was your ancestor one of them? The 1921 Census can show you what their life was like in England or Wales before they decided to migrate.
Did anyone in your family tree move to Australia? Tracing their experience from 1921 in England and Wales to passenger lists and other records in Australia can help you make amazing discoveries about how their life changed.
Perhaps your ancestors decided to move to Canada? The 1931 Canadian Census is also available to explore on Ancestry, and can help you piece together how life may have changed for your family during the decade between records.
Read our latest articles about life in 1921 and much more
Ancestry has so many collections to explore
Billions of records, and powerful search tools
See how Ancestry can help you auto populate some of your family history research with Ancestry Hints® and StoryScout™.
Add more details to your family tree with the help of the world’s largest online collection of family history records.
Uncover stories from the past when you subscribe to or sign up to a free trial to our collection of newspapers, both local and national.
14 day free family membership trial
Discover everything Ancestry® has to offer with a two week membership, completely free. Get started on your family tree, explore the 1921 census, and so much more.
*One free trial per person. Requires registration with a valid credit or debit card. Unless you cancel before the end of your free trial, your chosen membership will begin and you’ll be charged the relevant price. Your membership will automatically renew at the same price at the end of each membership period, unless you are notified otherwise. If you don’t want to renew, cancel at least two days before your renewal date by logging into your Account Settings page or by contacting us. See Terms and Conditions.