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".

Show Merthyr Tidvil RegD/PLU table	Aberdare SubD

OCCUPATIONS.	Males. [1]	Females. [2]
1. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE GENERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY.	57	2
Civil Service (officers and clerks)	9	1
Civil Service (messengers, &c.)	8	1
Police	25	-
Municipal, Parish, Union, District, Officer	8	-
Other Local or County Official	7	-
2. PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.	8	-
Soldier and Non-commissioned officer	2	-
Militia, Yeomanry, Volunteers	1	-
Army Pensioner	2	-
Seaman, R.N.	1	-
Navy Pensioner	2	-
3. PERSONS ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS (WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES).	248	138
Clergymen (Established Church)	13	-
Roman Catholic Priest	1	-
Minister, Priest of other religious bodies	45	-
Missionary, Scripture Reader, Itinerant preacher	3	1
Nun, Sister of Charity	-	3
Theological Student	10	-
Church, chapel, cemetery - officer, servant	1	-
Barrister, Solicitor	12	-
Law Clerk, and others connected with the law	12	-
Physician, Surgeon, General Practitioner	12	-
Dentist	2	-
Medical Student, Assistant	10	-
Midwife	-	2
Subordinate Medical Service	3	5
Schoolmaster	59	116
Teacher, Professor, Lecturer	2	7
School Service, and others connected with teaching	2	-
Reporter, Short-hand Writer	1	-
Civil Engineer	4	-
Mining Engineer	27	1
Land, House, Ship, Surveyor	9	-
Painter (artist)	2	-
Sculptor	1	-
Architect	2	-
Musician, Music Master	10	3
Photographer	3	-
Performer, Showman, Exhibition, Service	2	-
4. PERSONS ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC OFFICES OR SERVICES.	90	1,775
Domestic Coachman, Groom	18	-
Domestic Gardener	35	-
Domestic Indoor Servant	22	1,534
Lodge, Gate, Park Keeper (not Government)	2	-
Inn, Hotel Servant	10	35
Office Keeper (not Government)	-	1
Charwoman	1	40
Washing and Bathing Service	1	165
Hospital and Institution Service	1	-
5. PERSONS ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONS.	173	3
Broker, Agent, Factor	11	-
Auctioneer, Appraiser, Valuer, House Agent	5	-
Accountant	13	-
Salesman, Buyer (not otherwise specified)	-	1
Commercial Traveller	29	2
Commercial Clerk	84	-
Officer of Commercial Company, Guild, Society &c.	1	-
Bank Service	14	-
Bill Discounter, Bill Broker, Finance Agent	1	-
Life, House, Ship &c., Insurance Service	15	-
6. PERSONS ENGAGED IN CONVEYANCE OF MEN, GOODS, AND MESSAGES.	415	5
Railway Engine Driver, Stoker	78	-
Railway Guard	41	-
Pointsman, Level Crossing Man	4	-
Other Railway Officials and Servants	197	2
Cabman, Flyman, Coachman (not domestic)	12	-
Carman, Carrier, Carter, Haulier	33	-
Tramway Companies' Service	1	1
Inland Navigation Service	1	-
Bargeman, Lighterman, Waterman	4	-
Seaman (Merchant Service)	6	-
Harbour, Dock, Wharf, Lighthouse Service	1	-
Warehouseman (not Manchester)	4	-
Meter, Weigher	17	-
Messenger, Porter, Watchman (not Railway or Government)	8	1
Telegraph, Telephone Service	8	1
7. PERSONS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE.	241	23
Farmer, Grazier	58	4
Farmer's, Grazier's - Son, Grandson, Brother, Nephew	26	-
Farm Bailiff	13	-
Agricultural Labourer, Farm Servant, Cottager	123	19
Shepherd	7	-
Land Drainage Service (not in towns)	2	-
Woodman	2	-
Gardener (not domestic)	10	-
8. PERSONS ENGAGED ABOUT ANIMALS.	70	-
Horse Proprietor, Breeder, Dealer	2	-
Groom, Horse-keeper, Horse-breaker	45	-
Veterinary Surgeon, Farrier	11	-
Cattle, Sheep, Pig - Dealer, Salesman	9	-
Gamekeeper	3	-
9. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN BOOKS, PRINTS, AND MAPS.	35	-
Publisher, Bookseller, Librarian	4	-
Bookbinder	1	-
Printer	30	-
10. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.	143	3
Engine, Machine Maker	15	1
Fitter, Turner (Engine and Machine)	95	-
Boiler Maker	20	-
Cutler, Scissors Maker	2	-
Watch Maker, Clock Maker	8	2
Electrical Apparatus Maker	2	-
Musical Instrument Maker, Dealer	1	-
11. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN HOUSES, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIONS.	416	1
Builder	7	-
Carpenter, Joiner	145	-
Bricklayer	9	1
Mason	142	-
Slater, Tiler	6	-
Plasterer, Whitewasher	28	-
Paperhanger	1	-
Plumber	6	-
Painter, Glazier	39	-
Cabinet Maker	22	-
French Polisher	1	-
Furniture Broker, Dealer	1	-
Gas Fitter	4	-
Funeral Furniture Maker, Undertaker	2	-
Carver, Gilder	2	-
Figure, Image - Maker, Dealer	1	-
12. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS.	52	-
Coachmaker	1	-
Railway Carriage, Railway Wagon, Maker	11	-
Wheelwright	8	-
Others	16	-
Saddler, Harness, Whip Maker	16	-
13. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN SHIPS AND BOATS.	4	-
Ship, Boat, Barge Builder	2	-
Shipwright, Ship Carpenter (ashore)	1	-
Ship Rigger, Chandler, Fitter	1	-
14. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDS.	24	1
Gunpowder, Guncotton, Explosive Substance Manufacture	3	1
Chemist, Druggist	21	-
15. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TOBACCO AND PIPES.	2	1
Tobacco Manufacture, Tobacconist	1	1
Tobacco Pipe, Snuff Box &c. Maker	1	-
16. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN FOOD AND LODGING.	391	151
Innkeeper, Hotel Keeper, Publican	82	24
Lodging, Boarding House Keeper	2	23
Coffee, Eating House, Keeper	2	1
Maltster	1	-
Brewer	15	1
Beerseller, Ale, Porter, Cider Dealer	1	-
Cellarman	2	-
Wine, Spirit - Merchant, Agent	1	-
Milkseller, Dairyman	6	13
Cheesemonger, Butterman	3	1
Butcher, Meat Salesman	61	8
Provision Curer, Dealer	2	-
Fishmonger	4	1
Corn, Flour, Seed Merchant, Dealer	1	-
Corn Miller	1	-
Baker	11	17
Confectioner, Pastrycook	6	4
Greengrocer, Fruiterer	20	21
Mustard, Vinegar, Spice, Pickle Maker, Dealer	1	-
Sugar Refiner	1	-
Grocer. Tea, Coffee, Chocolate Maker, Dealer	166	37
Ginger Beer, Mineral Water Manufacturer, Dealer	2	-
17. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN TEXTILE FABRICS.	67	27
Woollen Cloth Manufacture	7	3
Cloth, Worsted, Stuff, Flannel, Blanket Dealer	3	3
Cotton, Cotton Goods Manufacture	-	2
Weaver (undefined)	3	-
Dyer, Printer, Scourer, Bleacher, Calenderer (undefined)	1	-
Factory Hand (textile, undefined)	-	1
Draper, Linen Draper, Mercer	53	16
Fancy Goods (Textile) Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	-	2
18. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN DRESS.	288	626
Straw - Hat, Bonnet, Plait Manufacture	-	1
Tailor	133	5
Milliner, Dressmaker, Staymaker	6	593
Shirt Maker, Seamstress	-	14
Hosiery Manufacture	-	4
Hosier, Haberdasher	1	-
Glover, Glove Maker	1	-
Shoe, Boot - Maker, Dealer	133	9
Patten, Clog Maker	4	-
Wig Maker, Hair Dresser	10	-
19. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.	3	2
Tallow Chandler, Candle, Grease Manufacture	3	2
20. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.	46	3
Oil and Colourman	-	1
Floor Cloth, Oil Cloth Manufacture	-	1
Hay, Straw (not plait), Chaff, Cutter, Dealer	6	-
Timber, Wood - Merchant, Dealer	9	-
Sawyer	23	-
Wood Turner, Box Maker	1	-
Cooper, Hoop Maker, Bender	4	-
Stationer, Law Stationer	2	1
Others	1	-
21. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN VARIOUS MINERAL SUBSTANCES.	7,154	220
Coal Miner	6,056	93
Ironstone Miner	9	-
Tin Miner	5	-
Lead Miner	1	-
Miner, in other or undefined Minerals	47	2
Mine Service	40	2
[Haulier] [not in Census Report but in codebook]	318	-
Coal Merchant	9	-
Coalheaver	25	2
Coke, Charcoal, Peat - Cutter, Burner, Dealer	3	-
Gas Works Service	8	-
Stone Quarrier	41	3
Stone Cutter, Dresser, Dealer	7	-
Limeburner	2	-
Clay, Sand, Gravel, Chalk, Labourer, Dealer	10	1
Well Sinker, Borer	9	-
Brick, Tile - Maker, Burner, Dealer	44	87
Road Contractor, Surveyor, Inspector	1	-
Road Labourer	11	-
Railway Contractor	1	-
Platelayer	72	-
Railway Labourer, Navvy	58	-
Earthenware, China, Porcelain, Manufacture	4	-
Earthenware, China, Glass Dealer	3	2
Goldsmith, Silversmith, Jeweller	5	-
[Iron Manufacture]	56	1
[Steel Manufacture]	2	-
Blacksmith	171	-
Anchor, Chain Manufacture	1	-
Ironmonger. Hardware Dealer, Merchant	19	1
Other Iron and Steel Manufacture	2	-
Tin, Tin Plate, Tin Goods - Manufacturer, Worker, Dealer	101	26
Metal Refiner, Worker, Turner, Dealer	3	-
Brass, Bronze Manufacture. Brazier	4	-
Wire Maker, Worker, Weaver, Drawer	1	-
Bolt, Nut, Rivet, Screw, Staple Maker	1	-
Lamp, Lantern, Candlestick Maker	4	-
22. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN GENERAL OR UNSPECIFIED COMMODITIES.	906	34
General Shopkeeper, Dealer	26	12
Pawnbroker	8	1
Costermonger, Huckster, Street Seller	6	8
Manufacturer, Manager, Superintendant (undefined)	10	1
Contractor (undefined)	8	-
General Labourer	398	9
Engine Driver, Stoker, Fireman (not railway, marine or agricultural)	342	-
Artizan, Mechanic (undefined)	76	3
Apprentice (undefined)	3	-
Factory Labourer (undefined)	29	-
23. PERSONS WORKING AND DEALING IN REFUSE MATTERS.	5	-
Town Drainage Service	2	-
Rag Gatherer, Dealer	3	-
24. PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS.	115	1,804
Persons returned by Property, Rank &c. and not special occupation	115	1,804
[UNKNOWN OCCUPATION]	100	4,845
[Occupation recorded but of unknown meaning]	14	-
[Blank field, or illegible]	86	4,845

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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".

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.)