1881 Census - When is a married woman the "Head"?

[David Corn]

Hi everyone,

Just a query with the England 1871 census. My relative is shown as "married" and the "head of family" with her husband not listed. I am wondering how to interpret this.

Does it just mean her husband was just not present the night of the census? Or can it mean he was not at this address more permanently? Or should I not read too much into this?

Many thanks

David 

[tedscout]

I have a family who were hay trussers and away every census. The wife was always "head" on census night and he and some of the sons were all found as lodgers where ever they were working.

hope this gives you some clue. Look for husband somewhere else he may have had a job that took him away from home.
  Ted

[percy porter]

I have a couple of rellies, one a master marriner and one a pilot (Marine not flying) and they have not been at home on any census I have found so far and the spouse has always been shown as the 'head'

Alan NZ

[GailS]

Hi,

I have recently found a family of mine that the wife was not the "head" but the husband was not home, I think it said in the occupation column "husband abroad"

The kids were all listed as children.

Gail.

[Guy Etchells]

Don't read too much into it.
It all depended who filled in the schedule and who transcribed the return.
If for instance the husband was not listed by his wife on the schedule, the enumerator, when transcribing the schedule into the return could mark the wife as head.
Cheers
Guy

[stanmapstone]

From "Making Sense of the Census"
"It should be noted that the headship of a household was a social position and did not necessarily reflect biological descent. Thus, in one household an aged widow may be described as head but in another case a son or daughter who has taken over the running of the affairs of the group might be so designated."

Apparently the 1951 Census ruffled some feathers

The census authorities designated the "head of the household" to be the senior male in the home
The executive of the Married Women's Association passed a resolution noting "with dismay the assumption by the Registrar-General .....that the husband is automatically the head of the household"


Stan

[Galium]

If you look up 'Queen Victoria' in 1861, you will see that she is head of the household, even though Albert is with her - but I think she was an exception .