Interview with Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com on the 1921 England and Wales Census (Audio podcast)

by Lisa Cooke | Jan 10, 2025 | 01 What's New, Ancestry, Genealogy Gems Podcast, Records & databases | 2 comments

SHOW NOTES: In episode 291 of the Genealogy Gems podcast, I’ll be discussing the launch of the 1921 England and Wales census on Ancestry with Crista Cowan, Ancestry’s corporate genealogist. The census covers 38 million people and is significant for several important reasons which Crista will explain. She also highlights the importance of understanding the context, including the delay in census day due to a potential worker strike, the impact of World War I on marital status, and new employment details. Our conversation also touches on the use of AI for indexing and the importance of family history storytelling. Listen in as Crista shares her answer to the question “what are you most excited about for the future of genealogy?”  Then we’ll expand beyond the 1921 census as Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, shares strategies for identifying your old family photos from the 1920s.

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A Conversation with Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com

Fast Facts from the interview about the 1921 Census of England and Wales at Ancestry.com:

• The 1921 England and Wales census is now available on Ancestry.com for users with a World Explorer or All Access subscription.

• Ancestry estimates that around 10-11% of the U.S. population will be able to find close family members in the 1921 Census of England and Wales (according to the 2020 American Community Survey). This suggests that a significant portion of the U.S. population, around 1 in 10 people, have ancestors from England or Wales that they may be able to locate in this new census record collection.

• The 1930 US Census lists over 850K people with a birthplace in England with over 100K of those likely to be found on the 1921 England and Wales Census.

• The 1921 Census of England Wales was conducted on June 19th, 1921, and captures a critical moment in history. It offers a look into the lives of roughly 38M individuals, including those who survived the war and the infamous 1919 flu pandemic.

Head of household completing the 1921 England and Wales Census (image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

• The next England and Wales Census will not be available until 2051 given the records of 1931 were destroyed during the Second World War and no census was taken in 1941 – adding to the significance of this release.

• Demographic Shifts: 1.7 million more women than men in England and Wales, largely due to the loss of men during WWI.

• This census is the first to include details about employment, including the name and address of the employer and the materials used in the occupation.

• The census was originally scheduled for April 24, but it was delayed until June 19 due to a threatened worker strike. This resulted in an increase in the population count in resort towns and holiday destinations.

“Fill Up the Form Day” for the 1921 England and Wales Census (image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

• The census forms asked for information about the people who were living in a household on the night of June 19, regardless of their usual residence.

• There are 25 different forms for the 1921 census, including separate forms for institutions, the armed forces, prisons, and Merchant Marines.

• This census is the first for England and Wales to record divorces.

• There was an increase in the number of widows listed in the census, likely due to World War I.

• People were more likely to report their age accurately in the 1921 census than in previous censuses where they were encouraged to provide round numbers.

• The Scottish census was taken at the same time as the England and Wales census, but the forms were separate.

• Northern Ireland was not included in the 1921 census because they were in the middle of their war of independence.

• Ancestry.com uses artificial intelligence to index handwritten census records.

• Ancestry.com is working on using AI to make search results more findable and to help people connect the dots between different records in their family trees.

Get Answers to Questions about the 1921 England and Wales Census (Timestamps)

Navigate the podcast quickly with the help of these timestamps on the top questions answered in this episode. 

• 01:45 – When was the 1921 census officially available?

• 03:13 – Is the 1921 census available to all Ancestry users?

• 03:38 – When was the 1921 England and Wales census conducted, and how many people did it cover?

• 06:15 – When will the next England and Wales census be available?

• 10:18 – How the census was conducted

• 17:59 – Women and their changing roles as reflected in the census.

• 20:50 – The Marriage Column.

• 22:41 – The accuracy of ages provided.

• 24:28 – Who might not appear in the 1921 census, even though they were physically there or nearby?

• 28:45 – How AI faced the challenges of handwritten census entries.

• 32:51 What is Crista most excited about these days when it comes to genealogy and what’s coming next from Ancestry.com?

Identifying Photos from the 1920s with Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective

Maureen Taylor’s expertise as a photo detective can help you unlock the stories behind family photographs from the 1920s in several ways:

1. Identifying clues in the photographs

Look for details like the clothing, hairstyles, technology, and background elements to help date the photographs and provide context about the time period.

2. Considering the physical format

Examine the size, paper type, and borders of the photographs to determine the camera and printing methods used. These can offer insights into when the photos were taken.

3. Exploring the context

Review the full set of family photographs, not just individual images. This can reveal patterns, missing pieces, and the broader story behind the photos.

4. Asking questions

By asking thoughtful questions about the photos, it can help uncover hidden details and stories that the family may have overlooked or forgotten over time.

5. Providing a fresh perspective

Asking a friend, fellow genealogist or an expert like Maureen to review your photos can bring a new lens to examining the photographs, spotting details and connections that the family members may have missed due to their personal connection to the images.

Visit Maureen Taylor The Photo Detective.

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