1939 Register - a question about the compilation of the Register

[candleflame]

Hi all
I know we are not allowed to do look ups on the 1939 so don't panic.
My question relates to how the Register was compiled , in particular is it possible for a whole family to not appear on it?
As you will guess I cannot locate a Dad, Mum, and child (who was born in 1938). I had thought they would be easy to spot even with name variants. I've tried separately -  first name only with variants, first and surname with variants, surname only with variants, dates of birth and or years of birth , possible geographical area, possible other geographical area. All three have died back in the 1980's so is it possible the whole household has been stuck in the 'officially closed' position as that was the only other thing I could think of. The parents were born in 1909 or earlier so after the 100 year rule.
Thanks for reading.

[rosie99]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/the-1939-register-is-now-available-online/

65,000 enumerators were employed to visit every house in England and Wales to take stock of the civil population. The information that they recorded was used to issue Identity Cards, plan mass evacuations, establish rationing and coordinate other war-time provisions.

[roopat]

As far as I'm aware the register is not complete. I can't find my rellies either as several houses in their street are missing.


Pat

[Keith]

If you're searching for the complete family unit take into account that Dad might be serving in the forces and so not at home.

[candleflame]

Reassuring roopat- not just me then!
Keith no I never searched for the whole family in one go - as with many searches, often 'less is more ' in search terms. The things I outlined in the original message I tried one at a time and still yielded nothing . I had hoped that if dad was not at home then the child would have been home with mum or with another relative or even a neighbour but nothing .
Rosie, yes I knew they visited individual homes and when , but was wondering if anyone knew of any known errors or omissions.
And before anyone asks, they are not known to have ever left the country and dad was believed to be in a protected occupation and so not away in wartime - though I have yet to prove that bit, of which the 1939 would go a long way!

[mgeneas]

Have you tried an address search?

[candleflame]

Have you tried an address search?

I don't have the accurate address for 1939 I'm afraid, just two geographical areas as I said. It's not a common surname either - though does come with many variants. The variants usually pop something up but not this time.

[groom]

Not much help to you I'm afraid as you don't have an address, but I couldn't find my grandparents on the register and I knew their exact address. I also knew the name of some of their neighbours, but they were also missing. I contacted FindMyPast with information I knew - names, dates and address and they double checked and found a section of the road had been left out. It is now there and shows my grandfather and one of their children, the other two are closed, but I know who they are. My grandmother is still missing though, but I know she was there and as she was born in 1882 she should be on the open register.

[coombs]

My great grandad is missing yet his wife and youngest son are at home. He was 48 at the time. So it is not just you who has missing rellies on the 1939 register.