Vision of Britain | 1881 Census: Ages

1881 Census of England and Wales, Tables: Ages, Condition as to Marriage, Occupations and Birthplaces of people, Table 10 : " Occupations of Males and Females in the Division and its Registration Counties".

List Chester RegD	Chester St Oswald AP/CP

OCCUPATIONS.	Males. [1]	Females. [2]
1. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE GENERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY.	74	-
Civil Service (officers and clerks)	25	-
Civil Service (messengers, &c.)	19	-
Prison Service, &c.	1	-
Police	23	-
Municipal, Parish, Union, District, Officer	5	-
Other Local or County Official	1	-
2. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.	9	2
Army Officer (effective/retired)	6	2
Army Pensioner	2	-
Navy Pensioner	1	-
3. PERSONS ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS (WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES).	154	109
Clergymen (Established Church)	8	-
Roman Catholic Priest	1	-
Minister, Priest of other religious bodies	10	-
Missionary, Scripture Reader, Itinerant preacher	2	1
Church, chapel, cemetery - officer, servant	1	1
Barrister, Solicitor	7	-
Law Clerk, and others connected with the law	31	-
Physician, Surgeon, General Practitioner	7	-
Dentist	1	-
Medical Student, Assistant	2	-
Midwife	-	1
Subordinate Medical Service	1	20
Schoolmaster	40	62
Teacher, Professor, Lecturer	5	10
School Service, and others connected with teaching	-	2
Author, Editor, Journalist	4	-
Reporter, Short-hand Writer	1	-
Civil Engineer	7	-
Mining Engineer	2	-
Land, House, Ship, Surveyor	5	-
Painter (artist)	2	3
Sculptor	1	-
Architect	6	-
Musician, Music Master	5	7
Art Student	1	-
Photographer	1	-
Actor	-	2
Billiard, Cricket & other Games, Service	3	-
4. PERSONS ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC OFFICES OR SERVICES.	108	839
Domestic Coachman, Groom	24	-
Domestic Gardener	26	-
Domestic Indoor Servant	19	706
Lodge, Gate, Park Keeper (not Government)	1	-
Inn, Hotel Servant	31	16
College, Club Service	1	-
Office Keeper (not Government)	2	1
Cook (not domestic)	1	-
Charwoman	-	49
Washing and Bathing Service	1	66
Hospital and Institution Service	2	1
5. PERSONS ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONS.	208	7
Merchant	3	-
Broker, Agent, Factor	11	-
Auctioneer, Appraiser, Valuer, House Agent	7	-
Accountant	16	-
Salesman, Buyer (not otherwise specified)	-	3
Commercial Traveller	25	-
Commercial Clerk	124	4
Banker	1	-
Bank Service	13	-
Life, House, Ship &c., Insurance Service	8	-
6. PERSONS ENGAGED IN CONVEYANCE OF MEN, GOODS, AND MESSAGES.	378	9
Railway Engine Driver, Stoker	44	-
Railway Guard	35	-
Pointsman, Level Crossing Man	11	1
Other Railway Officials and Servants	109	4
Omnibus, Coach, Cab, Owner - Livery Stable Keeper	12	-
Cabman, Flyman, Coachman (not domestic)	19	-
Carman, Carrier, Carter, Haulier	54	-
Tramway Companies' Service	1	-
Inland Navigation Service	7	-
Bargeman, Lighterman, Waterman	10	-
Navigation Service (on shore)	1	-
Seaman (Merchant Service)	13	-
Ship Steward, Cook	1	-
Harbour, Dock, Wharf, Lighthouse Service	2	-
Warehouseman (not Manchester)	5	-
Messenger, Porter, Watchman (not Railway or Government)	47	1
Telegraph, Telephone Service	7	3
7. PERSONS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE.	71	9
Farmer, Grazier	2	2
Farm Bailiff	1	-
Agricultural Labourer, Farm Servant, Cottager	25	7
Woodman	3	-
Nurseryman, Seedsman, Florist	10	-
Gardener (not domestic)	30	-
8. PERSONS ENGAGED ABOUT ANIMALS.	14	-
Groom, Horse-keeper, Horse-breaker	9	-
Veterinary Surgeon, Farrier	1	-
Drover	1	-
Gamekeeper	2	-
Fisherman	1	-
9. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN BOOKS, PRINTS, AND MAPS.	48	3
Publisher, Bookseller, Librarian	8	1
Bookbinder	4	1
Printer	31	-
Newspaper Agent, News Room Keeper	5	1
10. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.	117	1
Engine, Machine Maker	23	-
Millwright	2	-
Fitter, Turner (Engine and Machine)	53	-
Boiler Maker	11	1
Cutler, Scissors Maker	3	-
Watch Maker, Clock Maker	7	-
Electrical Apparatus Maker	3	-
Weighing and Measuring Apparatus Maker	1	-
Gunsmith, Gun Manufacturer	2	-
Musical Instrument Maker, Dealer	12	-
11. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN HOUSES, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIONS.	456	15
Builder	19	-
Carpenter, Joiner	147	1
Bricklayer	54	-
Mason	33	-
Slater, Tiler	5	-
Plasterer, Whitewasher	10	-
Paperhanger	1	-
Plumber	38	1
Painter, Glazier	81	1
Cabinet Maker	49	10
French Polisher	5	-
Furniture Broker, Dealer	1	2
Gas Fitter	4	-
Funeral Furniture Maker, Undertaker	1	-
Wood Carver	3	-
Carver, Gilder	2	-
Dealer in Works of Art	1	-
Animal, Bird &c. Preserver, Naturalist	2	-
12. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS.	78	-
Coachmaker	26	-
Railway Carriage, Railway Wagon, Maker	21	-
Wheelwright	14	-
Others	7	-
Saddler, Harness, Whip Maker	10	-
13. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN SHIPS AND BOATS.	43	-
Ship, Boat, Barge Builder	17	-
Shipwright, Ship Carpenter (ashore)	24	-
Sail Maker	2	-
14. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDS.	19	-
Chemist, Druggist	18	-
Alkali Manufacture	1	-
15. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TOBACCO AND PIPES.	26	10
Tobacco Manufacture, Tobacconist	26	10
16. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN FOOD AND LODGING.	273	85
Innkeeper, Hotel Keeper, Publican	31	10
Lodging, Boarding House Keeper	2	13
Coffee, Eating House, Keeper	2	8
Maltster	1	-
Brewer	12	1
Beerseller, Ale, Porter, Cider Dealer	4	-
Cellarman	1	-
Wine, Spirit - Merchant, Agent	10	1
Milkseller, Dairyman	7	5
Cheesemonger, Butterman	5	-
Butcher, Meat Salesman	45	3
Provision Curer, Dealer	11	8
Poulterer, Game Dealer	1	1
Fishmonger	7	2
Corn, Flour, Seed Merchant, Dealer	7	1
Corn Miller	4	-
Baker	51	5
Confectioner, Pastrycook	24	15
Greengrocer, Fruiterer	11	5
Sugar Refiner	1	-
Grocer. Tea, Coffee, Chocolate Maker, Dealer	36	7
17. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TEXTILE FABRICS.	44	15
Silk Dyer, Printer	1	-
Silk Merchant, Dealer	2	-
Rope, Twine, Cord - Maker, Dealer	1	-
Sacking, Sack, Bag - Maker, Dealer	-	1
Weaver (undefined)	-	1
Dyer, Printer, Scourer, Bleacher, Calenderer (undefined)	4	-
Carpet, Rug Manufacture	3	-
Draper, Linen Draper, Mercer	32	11
Fancy Goods (Textile) Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	-	2
Others	1	-
18. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN DRESS.	209	301
Hatter, Hat Manufacture	2	-
Tailor	85	16
Milliner, Dressmaker, Staymaker	2	245
Shirt Maker, Seamstress	-	13
Hosiery Manufacture	-	1
Hosier, Haberdasher	5	2
Shoe, Boot - Maker, Dealer	104	24
Patten, Clog Maker	1	-
Wig Maker, Hair Dresser	10	-
19. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.	8	-
Tallow Chandler, Candle, Grease Manufacture	1	-
Tanner, Fellmonger	3	-
Currier	1	-
Brush, Broom, Maker	3	-
20. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.	33	5
Oil Miller, Oil Cake - Maker, Dealer	1	-
Willow, Cane, Rush Worker, Dealer, Basketmaker	7	-
Hay, Straw (not plait), Chaff, Cutter, Dealer	2	-
Timber, Wood - Merchant, Dealer	2	-
Sawyer	7	-
Wood Turner, Box Maker	2	-
Cooper, Hoop Maker, Bender	4	-
Cork, Bark - Cutter, Worker, Dealer	1	1
Paper Manufacture	1	-
Stationer, Law Stationer	5	4
Others	1	-
21. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS MINERAL SUBSTANCES.	259	10
Coal Miner	1	-
Mine Service	1	-
Coal Merchant	10	1
Coalheaver	13	-
Gas Works Service	5	-
Stone Quarrier	1	-
Slate Worker, Dealer	2	-
Brick, Tile - Maker, Burner, Dealer	25	1
Paviour	5	1
Road Contractor, Surveyor, Inspector	1	-
Platelayer	9	-
Railway Labourer, Navvy	16	-
Earthenware, China, Glass Dealer	4	3
Salt Maker, Dealer	1	-
Waterworks Service	2	-
Goldsmith, Silversmith, Jeweller	2	1
[Iron Manufacture]	74	-
Blacksmith	41	-
Whitesmith	7	-
Nail Manufacture	5	-
Anchor, Chain Manufacture	2	-
Ironmonger. Hardware Dealer, Merchant	14	1
Other Iron and Steel Manufacture	1	-
[Coppersmith]	2	-
Tin, Tin Plate, Tin Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	6	1
Lead, Leaden Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	4	1
Brass, Bronze Manufacture. Brazier	4	-
Wire Maker, Worker, Weaver, Drawer	1	-
22. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN GENERAL OR UNSPECIFIED COMMODITIES.	339	63
General Shopkeeper, Dealer	8	30
Pawnbroker	4	-
Costermonger, Huckster, Street Seller	2	9
Manufacturer, Manager, Superintendant (undefined)	16	1
General Labourer	223	2
Engine Driver, Stoker, Fireman (not railway, marine or agricultural)	34	-
Artizan, Mechanic (undefined)	36	2
Apprentice (undefined)	3	1
Factory Labourer (undefined)	11	1
Machinist, Machine Worker (undefined)	2	17
23. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN REFUSE MATTERS.	2	-
Chimney Sweep, Soot Merchant	1	-
Scavenger, Crossing Sweeper	1	-
24. PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS.	180	272
Persons returned by Property, Rank &c. and not special occupation	180	272
[UNKNOWN OCCUPATION]	35	1,788
[Occupation recorded but of unknown meaning]	4	1
[Blank field, or illegible]	31	1,787

Notes:

The following notes to the table appeared in the original report.

1	This table is a very special case: The original Table 10 as published by Division in the 1881 census reports was limited to data for Registration Divisions, their component Registration Counties, and just those Urban Sanitary Districts with populations of over 50,000. Data presented here for counties and higher-level units are taken from the published reports, as usual, but we also include in A Vision of Britain through Time data for Registration Districts, sub-Districts and Civil Parishes which never appeared in the original reports. These were specially created for us by the History Data Service at the University of Essex and derive from the complete transcription of the individual-level Enumerators Book data coordinated by the Genealogical Society of Utah.
2	In creating these data, each occupation listed in the enumerators books has been assigned as far as possible to the relevant category used in the published reports, but some additional categories with labels in square brackets unavoidably appear. Unlike the published statistics for higher-level units, these specially-calculated data for districts and parishes include persons under 15 or over 65. For these and other reasons, no attempt has been made to ensure that county totals for the districts or parishes match the published county totals. The remaining notes are those that appeared below the original published table.
3	NOTE.--Persons returned as engaged in more than one occupation have been referred to the one that appeared to be of most importance; or if there was no difference in this respect, to the one first given by the person in his or her return. In some cases special rules have been followed: e.g. "Clergyman and Schoolmaster" in combination has always been referred to "Schoolmaster"; a Member of Parliament or Peer engaged in any branch of commerce or industry has always been referred to this latter, not to "Peer, M.P.".
4	The numbers returned under any heading include Labourers, Apprentices, and Assistants, as well as Masters, but not Clerks, Messengers, Errand boys, Porters, or Watchmen, for which occupations there are special headings. Civil, Military, and Naval Clerks, Law, Bank, Insurance, and Railway Clerks, and Government and Railway Porters, are, however, exceptions to this rule. Many young persons, being Apprentices or Assistants, have therefore been referred to occupations usually followed by adults. Women also, chiefly widows or orphans carrying on the business of their deceased husbands or fathers, will sometimes be found under occupations commonly followed by men only.
5	Persons returned as retired from any business have not been referred to that business. Inmates of workhouses have been referred to their trades, unless their age or infirmities showed that they were past work. But persons who might be supposed to be only temporarily separated from their usual employment, such as Prisoners, and Patients in General Hospitals, have been classed under their usual occupations.
6	In some cases, for convenience of space, the male designation, e.g. "Schoolmaster", alone is given, instead of "Schoolmaster, Schoolmistress".

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This website does not try to provide an exact replica of the original printed census tables, which often had thousands of rows and far more columns than will fit on our web pages. Instead, we let you drill down from national totals to the most detailed data available. The column headings are those that appeared in the original printed report. The numbers presented here, which are the same ones we use to create statistical maps and graphs, come from the census table and have usually been carefully checked.

The system can only hold statistics for units listed in our administrative gazetteer, so some rows from the original table may be missing. Sometimes big low-level units, like urban parishes, were divided between more than one higher-level units, like Registration sub-Districts. This is why some pages will give a higher figure for a lower-level unit: it covers the whole of the lower-level unit, not just the part within the current higher-level unit.

Acknowledgments:

We are grateful to the following contributors. If you make use of the data in your own work, please follow any instructions given here on acknowledgment and re-use.

(1) Kevin Schurer (Department of Geography, University of Cambridge). Role: editor. Restrictions on use: the data cannot be accessed, although the Vision of Britain system may present them graphically (any other use requires the contributor's permission.)

(2) Matthew Woollard (UK Data Service, University of Essex). Role: editor. Restrictions on use: the data cannot be accessed, although the Vision of Britain system may present them graphically (any other use requires the contributor's permission.)