You can now find families from not only West Yorkshire, but East and North Yorkshire as well as other areas of Britain (not all are posted yet), in the 1911 British Census at www.1911census.co.uk
And if you happen to be related to Sir Michael Parkinson, someone’s already found your family for you. The following excerpt is a teaser from a good article by Kate O’hara in the March 24, 2009 edition of the Yorkshire Post.
He is one of Britain’s best-known presenters, famous for interviewing legends such as Muhammad Ali and The Beatles, and a knight, but historical records released today reveal details of Michael Parkinson’s humble ancestry in Yorkshire.
The former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist’s grandmother and grandfather are among those whose poignantly hand-written details can be viewed by the public as parts of the 1911 go online today.
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The 1911 records were not due to be released until 2012 but demand was so high that were released early.
The initial release was in January this year and included the records for West Yorkshire. Today the records of people living in East and North Yorkshire are available.
The census covered England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, as well as recording those aboard Royal Naval and Merchant vessels at sea and in foreign ports. For the first time in a British census it also included full details of British Army personnel and their families in military establishments overseas.
It is the most detailed census since UK records began and the first for which the original census schedules have been preserved – complete with peoples’ own handwriting – providing a fascinating insight into British society nearly a century ago.
The census team worked around the clock for two years – scanning on average one census page per second. In line with data protection legislation, certain sensitive information relating to infirmity and to children of women prisoners will be held back until 2012.
