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 Portsmouth RegD/PLPar/PLU	Portsea Town SubD

OCCUPATIONS.	Males. [1]	Females. [2]
1. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE GENERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY.	138	2
Civil Service (officers and clerks)	23	-
Civil Service (messengers, &c.)	10	1
Prison Service, &c.	46	1
Police	56	-
Municipal, Parish, Union, District, Officer	2	-
Other Local or County Official	1	-
2. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.	3,280	6
Army Officer (effective/retired)	196	1
Soldier and Non-commissioned officer	1,006	2
Militia, Yeomanry, Volunteers	6	-
Army Pensioner	52	1
Navy Officer (effective/retired)	215	-
Seaman, R.N.	1,145	2
Royal Marines (officers/men)	349	-
Navy Pensioner	311	-
3. PERSONS ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS (WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES).	170	95
Clergymen (Established Church)	8	-
Roman Catholic Priest	3	-
Minister, Priest of other religious bodies	3	-
Missionary, Scripture Reader, Itinerant preacher	5	3
Theological Student	4	-
Church, chapel, cemetery - officer, servant	-	1
Barrister, Solicitor	7	-
Law Student	1	-
Law Clerk, and others connected with the law	18	2
Physician, Surgeon, General Practitioner	17	-
Dentist	2	-
Medical Student, Assistant	4	-
Midwife	-	2
Subordinate Medical Service	1	14
Schoolmaster	17	46
Teacher, Professor, Lecturer	2	5
School Service, and others connected with teaching	2	-
Author, Editor, Journalist	6	-
Reporter, Short-hand Writer	1	-
Persons engaged in Scientific Pursuits	1	-
Literary, Scientific, Institution, Service, &c.	2	-
Civil Engineer	6	-
Land, House, Ship, Surveyor	2	-
Painter (artist)	3	1
Engraver (artist)	1	-
Architect	1	-
Musician, Music Master	41	20
Art Student	-	1
Photographer	7	-
Performer, Showman, Exhibition, Service	1	-
Billiard, Cricket & other Games, Service	4	-
4. PERSONS ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC OFFICES OR SERVICES.	150	792
Domestic Coachman, Groom	14	-
Domestic Gardener	1	-
Domestic Indoor Servant	79	522
Inn, Hotel Servant	29	33
College, Club Service	-	1
Office Keeper (not Government)	3	1
Cook (not domestic)	16	6
Charwoman	-	95
Washing and Bathing Service	-	113
Hospital and Institution Service	1	4
Others engaged in Service	7	17
5. PERSONS ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONS.	138	6
Broker, Agent, Factor	14	3
Auctioneer, Appraiser, Valuer, House Agent	11	-
Accountant	4	-
Salesman, Buyer (not otherwise specified)	3	1
Commercial Traveller	31	-
Commercial Clerk	62	1
Banker	1	-
Bank Service	5	-
Bill Discounter, Bill Broker, Finance Agent	4	-
Life, House, Ship &c., Insurance Service	3	1
6. PERSONS ENGAGED IN CONVEYANCE OF MEN, GOODS, AND MESSAGES.	2,634	8
Railway Engine Driver, Stoker	30	-
Railway Guard	1	-
Pointsman, Level Crossing Man	1	-
Other Railway Officials and Servants	29	-
Omnibus, Coach, Cab, Owner - Livery Stable Keeper	4	-
Cabman, Flyman, Coachman (not domestic)	20	-
Carman, Carrier, Carter, Haulier	50	3
Tramway Companies' Service	3	-
Bargeman, Lighterman, Waterman	60	-
Seaman (Merchant Service)	2,102	4
Ship Steward, Cook	154	1
Boatman on Seas	4	-
Harbour, Dock, Wharf, Lighthouse Service	90	-
Warehouseman (not Manchester)	18	-
Meter, Weigher	2	-
Messenger, Porter, Watchman (not Railway or Government)	62	-
Telegraph, Telephone Service	4	-
7. PERSONS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE.	103	-
Farmer, Grazier	6	-
Farm Bailiff	1	-
Agricultural Labourer, Farm Servant, Cottager	80	-
Woodman	1	-
Nurseryman, Seedsman, Florist	2	-
Gardener (not domestic)	13	-
8. PERSONS ENGAGED ABOUT ANIMALS.	39	-
Horse Proprietor, Breeder, Dealer	2	-
Groom, Horse-keeper, Horse-breaker	22	-
Veterinary Surgeon, Farrier	2	-
Cattle, Sheep, Pig - Dealer, Salesman	3	-
Drover	3	-
Dog, Bird, Animal - Keeper, Dealer	1	-
Fisherman	5	-
Knacker, Catsmeat Dealer &c &c.	1	-
9. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN BOOKS, PRINTS, AND MAPS.	45	2
Publisher, Bookseller, Librarian	2	1
Bookbinder	9	1
Printer	27	-
Newspaper Agent, News Room Keeper	5	-
Lithographer, Lithographic Printer	2	-
10. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.	293	5
Engine, Machine Maker	71	-
Millwright	16	-
Fitter, Turner (Engine and Machine)	118	-
Boiler Maker	44	1
Spinning and Weaving Machine Maker	1	-
Domestic Machinery - Maker, Dealer	1	-
Tool Maker, Dealer	1	-
Cutler, Scissors Maker	6	-
Saw Maker	1	-
Domestic Implement Maker	1	-
Watch Maker, Clock Maker	26	-
Philosophical Instrument Maker	1	-
Weighing and Measuring Apparatus Maker	1	-
Surgical Instrument Maker	1	1
Gunsmith, Gun Manufacturer	1	-
Musical Instrument Maker, Dealer	1	-
Toy Maker, Dealer	2	3
11. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN HOUSES, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIONS.	576	15
Builder	14	-
Carpenter, Joiner	125	1
Bricklayer	131	-
Mason	53	-
Slater, Tiler	9	-
Plasterer, Whitewasher	14	-
Paperhanger	4	-
Plumber	30	-
Painter, Glazier	104	-
Cabinet Maker	43	11
French Polisher	22	1
Furniture Broker, Dealer	6	2
Gas Fitter	14	-
Funeral Furniture Maker, Undertaker	3	-
Carver, Gilder	2	-
Dealer in Works of Art	1	-
Figure, Image - Maker, Dealer	1	-
12. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS.	20	1
Coachmaker	8	1
Wheelwright	8	-
Saddler, Harness, Whip Maker	4	-
13. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN SHIPS AND BOATS.	395	2
Ship, Boat, Barge Builder	134	2
Shipwright, Ship Carpenter (ashore)	225	-
Mast, Yard, Oar, Block Maker	2	-
Ship Rigger, Chandler, Fitter	14	-
Sail Maker	20	-
14. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDS.	12	-
Dye, Paint Manufacture	1	-
Chemist, Druggist	11	-
15. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TOBACCO AND PIPES.	14	3
Tobacco Manufacture, Tobacconist	12	3
Tobacco Pipe, Snuff Box &c. Maker	2	-
16. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN FOOD AND LODGING.	384	101
Innkeeper, Hotel Keeper, Publican	65	13
Lodging, Boarding House Keeper	2	36
Coffee, Eating House, Keeper	13	5
Maltster	3	-
Brewer	8	-
Beerseller, Ale, Porter, Cider Dealer	27	14
Cellarman	9	-
Wine, Spirit - Merchant, Agent	6	-
Milkseller, Dairyman	5	-
Cheesemonger, Butterman	2	-
Butcher, Meat Salesman	52	2
Provision Curer, Dealer	6	-
Poulterer, Game Dealer	1	-
Fishmonger	14	3
Corn, Flour, Seed Merchant, Dealer	3	-
Corn Miller	3	-
Baker	73	6
Confectioner, Pastrycook	13	8
Greengrocer, Fruiterer	21	5
Grocer. Tea, Coffee, Chocolate Maker, Dealer	53	9
Ginger Beer, Mineral Water Manufacturer, Dealer	5	-
17. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TEXTILE FABRICS.	84	29
Woolstapler	1	-
Woollen Cloth Manufacture	4	-
Worsted, Stuff, Manufacture	-	2
Silk, Silk Goods, Manufacture	1	-
Cotton, Cotton Goods Manufacture	9	1
Cotton, Calico - Printer, Dyer, Bleacher	1	-
Flax, Linen - Manufacturer, Dealer	2	-
Lace Manufacturer, Dealer	1	3
Rope, Twine, Cord - Maker, Dealer	8	-
Others working and Dealing in Hemp	1	-
Weaver (undefined)	1	-
Dyer, Printer, Scourer, Bleacher, Calenderer (undefined)	4	-
Factory Hand (textile, undefined)	1	-
Carpet, Rug Manufacture	6	-
Draper, Linen Draper, Mercer	44	22
Fancy Goods (Textile) Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	-	1
18. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN DRESS.	311	431
Hatter, Hat Manufacture	7	3
Straw - Hat, Bonnet, Plait Manufacture	-	1
Tailor	139	66
Milliner, Dressmaker, Staymaker	5	285
Shirt Maker, Seamstress	1	59
Hosiery Manufacture	1	-
Hosier, Haberdasher	1	-
Button Maker, Dealer	2	-
Shoe, Boot - Maker, Dealer	132	11
Wig Maker, Hair Dresser	19	1
Umbrella, Parasol, Stick - Maker, Dealer	3	3
Accoutrement Maker	-	2
Old Clothes Dealer, and others	1	-
19. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.	17	5
Bone, Horn, Ivory, Tortoise-shell - Worker, Dealer	1	-
Tanner, Fellmonger	1	-
Currier	5	1
Leather Goods, Portmanteau, Bag, Strap &c., Maker, Dealer	1	2
Hair, Bristle - Worker, Dealer	1	-
Brush, Broom, Maker	8	-
Quill, Feather - Dresser, Dealer	-	2
20. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.	79	8
Oil Miller, Oil Cake - Maker, Dealer	2	-
Oil and Colourman	1	-
India Rubber, Gutta Percha - Worker, Dealer	1	-
Willow, Cane, Rush Worker, Dealer, Basketmaker	5	-
Hay, Straw (not plait), Chaff, Cutter, Dealer	2	-
Timber, Wood - Merchant, Dealer	8	1
Sawyer	23	-
Lath, Wooden Fence, Hurdle Maker	1	-
Wood Turner, Box Maker	1	-
Cooper, Hoop Maker, Bender	21	-
Cork, Bark - Cutter, Worker, Dealer	3	-
Paper Manufacture	3	2
Stationer, Law Stationer	6	1
Paper Box, Paper Bag Maker	-	4
Others	2	-
21. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS MINERAL SUBSTANCES.	389	10
Coal Miner	61	-
Ironstone Miner	1	-
Miner, in other or undefined Minerals	1	-
Coal Merchant	10	-
Coalheaver	4	-
Coke, Charcoal, Peat - Cutter, Burner, Dealer	1	-
Gas Works Service	1	1
Stone Quarrier	4	-
Slate Worker, Dealer	1	-
Limeburner	1	-
Well Sinker, Borer	1	-
Brick, Tile - Maker, Burner, Dealer	9	-
Paviour	1	-
Road Labourer	2	-
Railway Labourer, Navvy	23	-
Earthenware, China, Porcelain, Manufacture	3	-
Glass Manufacture	4	-
Earthenware, China, Glass Dealer	6	1
Waterworks Service	4	-
Goldsmith, Silversmith, Jeweller	20	6
[Iron Manufacture]	60	-
Blacksmith	96	-
Whitesmith	3	-
Nail Manufacture	3	-
Anchor, Chain Manufacture	2	-
Ironmonger. Hardware Dealer, Merchant	13	-
[Coppersmith]	16	-
Tin, Tin Plate, Tin Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	8	-
Lead, Leaden Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	-	2
Metal Refiner, Worker, Turner, Dealer	2	-
Brass, Bronze Manufacture. Brazier	14	-
White Metal, Plated Ware, Manufacture. Pewterer	2	-
Bolt, Nut, Rivet, Screw, Staple Maker	1	-
Lamp, Lantern, Candlestick Maker	11	-
22. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN GENERAL OR UNSPECIFIED COMMODITIES.	945	39
General Shopkeeper, Dealer	34	5
Pawnbroker	8	2
Costermonger, Huckster, Street Seller	57	4
Manufacturer, Manager, Superintendant (undefined)	5	1
Contractor (undefined)	2	-
General Labourer	280	1
Engine Driver, Stoker, Fireman (not railway, marine or agricultural)	408	-
Artizan, Mechanic (undefined)	102	-
Apprentice (undefined)	8	-
Factory Labourer (undefined)	41	-
Machinist, Machine Worker (undefined)	-	26
23. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN REFUSE MATTERS.	8	-
Chimney Sweep, Soot Merchant	5	-
Rag Gatherer, Dealer	3	-
24. PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS.	176	601
Persons returned by Property, Rank &c. and not special occupation	176	601
[UNKNOWN OCCUPATION]	66	1,935
[Occupation recorded but of unknown meaning]	3	-
[Blank field, or illegible]	63	1,935

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".

Click on the triangles for all about a particular number.

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.)