[Compiled from Parliamentary Papers 1852-3, 1863 and 1873. Added by Marjie Bloy Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow, National University of Singapore.]

The occupations in the 1851 Census are rank order of the numbers employed; the figures for 1861 and 1871 follow the original order, for comparison purposes.

Some occupations are re-named, others are put into different categories over this thirty year period; some occupations did disappear.

Some new occupations appear: these have been added to the end of the lists

.
Occupation
1851
1861
1871
Agricultural labourer, farm servant, shepherd
Domestic servant
Cotton, calico, manufacture, printing and dyeing
Labourer
Farmer, grazier
Boot and shoe maker
Milliner, dressmaker
Coal miner
Carpenter, joiner
Army and navy
Tailor
Washerwomen, mangler, laundry keeper
Woollen cloth manufacture
Silk manufacture
Blacksmith
Worsted manufacture
Mason, paviour
Messenger, porter and errand boy
Linen, flax manufacture
Seaman (merchant service) on shore or in British ports
Grocer
Gardener
Iron manufacture, moulder, founder
Innkeeper, licensed victualler, beershop keeper
Seamstress, shirtmaker
Bricklayer
Butcher, meat salesman
Hose (stocking) manufacturer
Schoolmaster/mistress
Lace manufacture
Plumber, painter, glazier
Baker
Carman, carrier, carter, drayman
Charwoman
Draper (linen and woollen)
Engine and machine maker
Commercial clerk
Cabinet maker, upholsterer
Teacher (various) governess
Fisherman/woman
Boat, barge man/woman
Miller
Earthenware manufacture
Sawyer
Railway labourer
Straw-plait manufacture
Brick maker, dealer
Government Civil Service
Hawker, pedlar
Wheelwright
Glover
Shopkeeper (branch undefined)
Horsekeeper, groom (not domestic), jockey
Nail manufacture
Iron miner
Printer
Nurse (not domestic servant)
Shipwright, shipbuilder
Stone quarrier
Lodging house keeper
Lead miner
Copper miner
Straw hat and bonnet maker
Cooper
Watch and clock maker
Brewer
Dock labourer, dock and harbour service
Clergyman of the Established [Anglican] Church
Protestant Dissenting minister
Police
Plasterer
Warehouse man/woman
Saddler, harness maker
Hatter, hat manufacture
Coachman (not domestic servant) guard, postboy
Law clerk
Coachmaker
Cowkeeper, milkseller
Ropemaker
Druggist
Surgeon, apothecary
Tin miner
Paper manufacture
Coalheaver, coal labourer
Greengrocer, fruiterer
Muslin manufacture
Confectioner
Tinman, tinker, pin plate worker
Staymaker
Solicitor, attorney, writer to the Signet
Dyer, scourer, calenderer
Currier
Builder
Farm bailiff
Hairdresser, wig maker
Coal merchant/dealer
Glass manufacture
Carpet and rug manufacture
Goldsmith, silversmith
Brass founder, moulder, manufacture
Maltster
Railway officer, clerk, station master
Book binder
Road labourer
Wine and spirit merchant
Fishmonger
Merchant
Ribbon manufacture
House proprietor
Land proprietor
Railway Company's servant, Porter, Attendant
Costermonger, General dealer, Huckster
Beerseller
Dockyards (HM) Artificers, Labourers in
Boiler maker
Gunsmith, Gun manfacturer
Manufacturer, Mechanic
Chelsea Pensioner
Brush, broom maker, seller
Provision Curer,dealer
Commercial traveller
Railway Engine Driver, Stoker
Miner (branch undefined)
Engine driver, stoker (branch undefined)
Government messengers and workmen
Machinist, machine worker (branch undefined)
Agent, broker, factor
Musician, Music master
Cutler
Ironmonger, hardware dealer
Tobacco,cigar, snuff manufacturer
Weaver (not otherwise described)
Gasworks service
Municipal, Parish, Union Officer
Institution service
Wood, timber merchant/dealer
Corn, flour, seed merchant/dealer
Gamekeeper
Manufacturing chemist, labourer
Stationer (not law)
Bank service
Box and packing case maker
Coal mine service
1,460,896
1,038,791
501,565
376,551
306,767
274,451
267,791
219,015
182,696
178,773
152,672
146,091
137,814
114,570
112,776
104,061
101,442
101,425
98,860
89,206
85,913
80,946
80,032
75,721
73,068
67,989
67,691
65,499
65,376
63,660
62,808
62,472
56,981
55,423
49,184
48,082
43,760
40,897
40,575
38,294
37,683
37,268
36,512
35,443
34,306
32,062
31,168
30,963
30,553
30,244
29,882
29,800
29,408
28,533
28,088
26,024
25,518
25,201
23,489
23,089
22,530
22,386
21,902
20,245
19,159
18,620
18,462
18,587
9,644
18,348
17,980
17,861
17,583
16,975
16,836
16,626
16,590
16,526
15,966
15,643
15,163
15,050
14,501
14,426
14,320
14,098
13,865
13,770
13,699
13,256
12,964
12,920
12,818
12,805
12,173
12,092
12,005
11,457
11,242
11,230
11,150
10,948
10,953
10,923
10,467
10,439
10,256
10,074
1,188,789
1,106,974
456,646
309,883
249,745
250,581
287,101
246,613 
177,969
199,905
136,390
167,607
130,034
101,678
108,165
79,242
84,434
75,629
22,050
159,469
93,483
78,533
125,771
66,386
76,493
79,458
68,114
45,869
56,139
53,987
74,619
54,140
67,651
65,273
57,653
60,862
55,931
41,037
49,743
17,227
31,428
32,103
38,072
31,647
27,773
29,867
39,620
31,346
21,792
30,070
25,300
14,580
36,600
26,130
20,626
30,590
24,821
31,294
21,004
20,700
18,552
17,727
18,176
17,821
20,757
20,352
32,487
19,195
7,840
21,938
18,550
21,798
18,229
13,814
17,251
16,605
18,870
17,694
13,486
16,414
12,030
14,314
13,357
17,410
18,045
---
14,526
---
11,482
11,386
---
13,109
15,757
15,698
11,064
12,266
15,046
---
15,893
16,284
10,677
14,580
11,920
---
---
11,305
12,982
---
36,082
30,766
26,846
15,879
15,767
14,314
13,020
11,873
11,639
11,342
11,178
11,052
10,779
10,414

980,178
1,237,149
468,142
516,605
249,907
223,365
301,109
268,091
205,833
175,217
149,864
170,598
128,464
75,180
112,471
94,766
95,243
93,182
17,993
169,933
111,094
98,069
180,207
94,011
80,730
99,984
75,847
42,038
58,152
49,370
103,912
59,066
74,244
77,650
74,337
106,680
91,042
56,945
 68,595
21,043
29,864
30,060
45,122
27,965
45,070
48,863
38,779
28,644
44,617
30,394
16,811
39,991
42,682
23,231
20,931
44,814
28,417
40,626
25,681
25,932
14,563
---
---
19,330
21,273
25,831
28,794
20,694
" " "
28,330
24,587
44,013
23,011
21,778
39,999
18,886
23,034
20,558
11,695
19,684
14,692
10,617
16,772
27,998
25,819
---
16,988
18,324
---
12,314
12,882
14,710
23,300
16,476
13,125
16,250
20,081
11,568
22,031
21,421
10,356
22,083
15,474
---
10,969
14,880
15,936
---
17,086
22,964
49,102
---
16,361
---
---
11,576
17,530
---
11,708
13,236
17,922
13,715
38,712
31,026
24,582
23,421
22,962
18,631
17,903
17,368
14,367
14,260
13,570
13,423
13,304
12,859
12,765
12,431
11,328
10,889
10,887
10,570
10,346

Total population figures (millions)

Year

England and Wales
Scotland
Ireland
Britain
1851
18.0
2.9
6.6
27.5
1861
20
3
5.7
28.7

1871

22.7

3.3

5.4

31.4


Created 2 July 2002

Last modified 12 January 2020