Using UK Census Data for Research
The historic UK census is commonly accessed by casual and professional researchers alike using genealogy sites such as FindMyPast and Ancestry. These sites, while providing easy searching and retrieval of detailed information about individuals, are not suitable for large-scale data analysis. However, the UK censuses from 1851-1921 are available via the UK Data Service [https://ukdataservice.ac.uk] to any researcher with access to the internet.
The workshop provides an overview of how researchers can access and use open-source census data. It will also clarify the skills and technology required to obtain and analyse census datasets. We will demonstrate how even beginners with no prior experience can access tools and resources to help them employ basic Python code and Pandas data frames in Jupyter Notebooks for data analysis and chart creation.
This workshop aims to help researchers who generally feel they cannot access the digital humanities better understand the resources available to them. While some basic knowledge of Python may be beneficial, it is not required. For the practical segment, we will have computers available for shared use. If you have the technical confidence to install and run Jupyter Notebooks, you are welcome to bring your own laptops, and the files will be supplied in advance.
All welcomeThis event is free to attend, but booking is required. It will be held in-person at the Senate House MakerSpace.
This page was last updated on 21 February 2025
