Nature of Source
What is the 1939 Register?
The 1939 Register is a valuable census substitute covering England and Wales, taken at the outbreak of World War II by an Act of Parliament known as the National Registration Act 1939. It contains information on approximately 41 million civilians. The Register serves as a crucial record of the population in England and Wales between 1921 and 1951, especially as the 1931 census was destroyed in a fire during World War II and no census was taken in 1941
Background of the 1939 Register
The register was taken on Friday September 29, 1939, known as National Registration Day. The Act required the registration of every member of each household (including children) in England and Wales. After registration, each household member received a National Registration Number and an identity card, which was compulsory to carry at all times. The ID card was later used for obtaining a ration book. The process also allowed the government to maintain a clear picture of the civilian population throughout the war. From 21st February 1952 it was no longer a requirement to carry ID cards and on 22nd May the National Registration Act of 1939 was repealed.
What Information Does It Contain?
For each individual, the register recorded:
- Full name
- Sex
- Address
- Date of birth
- Marital status
- Occupation
- Armed forces or reserves if on leave
The register is similar in scope and appearance to the census with one great advantage, the exact date of birth is given.
Who was Included and Exemptions?
The Register was primarily concerned with registering the civilian population so members of the armed forces living in an army barrack or royal navy or royal air force station were not recorded even if billeted in a private dwelling or their own home. Civilians working at a military establishment were registered. Other exemptions from the register include those dwelling outside of England and Wales and those staying away from their usual abode within England or Wales. Like the censuses, some managed to deliberately evade being recorded.
Administrative Structure
In 1939, the country was divided into more than 1400 administrative areas, each was assigned a three letter code. A fourth letter has been appended to the end of the code which specifies the enumeration district. A table of all the codes and areas are shown in this Findmypast article and at LostCousins. Each person recorded is assigned a number on the form, making it easy to group households together.
Privacy Restrictions
Due to privacy laws, records of individuals who are still alive or who died after 1991 are officially closed, unless proof of death can be provided. Only individuals who were born more than 100 years ago, or those known to have died before 1991, are publicly accessible.
The Register as a Living Document
The 1939 Register was a working document, meaning that it was updated regularly even after National Registration ended in February 1952. Over time, annotations and amendments were added, including name changes (due to marriage, for example), and other updates as needed.
Scotland
For information on the 1939 Register in Scotland and details of applying for an extract, contact the National Records of Scotland. For details on ordering an official extract, refer to the Research Guide ‘1939 National Identity Register and How to Order an Official Extract’.
Where Found
The National Archives
Series RG 101, General Register Office: National Registration: 1939 Register. This series comprises digitally scanned versions of the enumerator’s transcript books for the national registration of the civilian population that took place on the evening of 29 September 1939. The records only cover enumeration districts in England and Wales.
Records relating to Scotland are held by the National Records of Scotland. Records related to Northern Ireland at held at the PRO Northern Ireland. Returns for the Isle of Man are not known to survive.
Period Covered
1939-1952
Genealogical Value
- Full name and address.
- Full date of birth and gender.
- Marital status (Single, married widow/widower or divorced).
- Occupation and whether a member of the armed forces or reserves.
- Officer, Visitor, Servant, Patient or Inmate (For members of institutions only).
Further References
- Christian, Peter & Annal, David. Census: The Family Historian’s Guide: Bloomsbury, 2014
Websites
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine
What is the 1939 Register? What is the 1939 Register, when was it taken and where can you access the records? We explain how to use this useful census substitute from the start of the Second World War.
LostCousins Newsletter
Inside the 1939 Register. Full guide and insights into the 1939 Register with tips for effective searching.
The National Archives Research Guide
How to look for records of 1939 Register
Fidmypast
1939 Register. Learn about these records
1911Census
The 1939 National Identity Card
Ancestry Blog
Find your recent relatives in the 1939 Register, by Kristen Hyde
Findmypast Article
Understanding 1939 Registration Districts
FamilyHistory
1939 Register
The Genealogist
Featured Article: A Window on September 1939 and George Formby the entertainer
Manchester & Lancashire FHS
Research Guide: The 1939 Register
Online Databases
Findmypast
1939 Register. The official online home of the Register, in partnership with The National Archives. Discover exactly what they did for a living, maps of where they lived and even who their neighbours were. Or click on the address tab to search for your own address, or an address you know, to see who was living there in September 1939.
Ancestry
1939 England and Wales Register. Explore the 1939 register to see the most complete picture of civilians in England & Wales following the outbreak of World War II.
The Genealogist
1939 Register Transcript. Search the register using SmartSearch technology giving quick access to a person’s birth, marriage or death record. Keyword searches can be used for places and addresses, occupations, dates of birth and maiden and married names. The 1939 register is linked to historic Ordnance Survey maps through the Map Explorer feature.
MyHeritage
1939 Register of England & Wales. Transcriptions without images.
Gloucestershire Archives
The National Registration Act 1915. Information about more than 2000 women from the Cirencester area. The information written on the forms has now been transcribed by David Drinkwater, and is available to download from this page.
