The 1841 Census (Cornwall)

the Goninan family

The 1841 Census was the first comprehensive census undertaken in the UK. It is by household and shows the Parish and the place within the Parish where people are living. It identifies the head of the household and the relationship of other occupants to that head. The ages given must be treated with care as they were rounded to the nearest five years. Occupations are shown for adult males. Place of birth was only recorded by County. All our family members were born in Cornwall.

By 1841 the family had spread out from Breage and can be found in various Parishes in West Cornwall. Four main family groups can be identified and for convenience we have always referred to these as the Gwithian, Helston, St Just and Perranuthnoe Branches and the Census details have been arranged by these family branches.

The Gwithian Branch are the descendants of Richard and Mary Goninan (see ref 1 below for Mary). In 1841 they are all living in Gwithian Parish and the adjacent Gwinear Parish (other than one member who is lodging in St Just)

The Helston Branch are the descendants of Edward and Honour Goninan (ref 46/47) and in 1841 they are living in Helston and one of their sons is lodging in Breage

The St Just Branch are the descendants of William and Elizabeth Goninan (see ref 62 for William). In 1841 most are living in St Just but William himself is in Penzance

The Perranuthnoe Branch are the descendants of Richard and Grace Goninan via their sons Richard and Henry. In 1841 family members are living in Perranuthnoe and the nearby Parishes of Sithney and Phillack

The 1841 Census is an important document for the family because at this point, as far as we know, no one has yet emigrated and this concentration of family members in West Cornwall is in part what binds us all together. Wherever you are in the world now, you should be able to find one or more ancestors in this list.

The national census was undertaken every ten years. The data is confidential until a hundred years have elapsed. Thus the latest available census is for 1901. Some census information for Cornwall is available on line for free – see  http://freecen.rootsweb.com/

census details :-

In the original census record the spelling of Goninan has any number of variations – here it has been standardised as Goninan.  Care should be taken with the ages because all adult ages were rounded to the nearest 5 years. Only the county of birth was shown. Everybody on this list gave their birthplace as Cornwall

Gwithian branch
St Just branch
Perranuthnoe branch
Helston branch

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