If you are new to this hobby and haven't used census records
before, you might start by taking lesson #9 on Using Census
Records at Rootsweb. This will give you an appreciation for the
values and problems of using census returns, indexes and such.
And you will learn the difference between a soundex and surname
index. For England, the census started in 1801 and was conducted
every ten years except during World War II in 1941. Until 1841,
they typically record a surname and a count of males and females
in certain age brackets. These early census records are of
limited value to family historians. For Nottinghamshire, there
are very few pre-1841 census records available at the Salt Lake
FHL or through the Family History Centres. In some cases, a
"special" census was taken during non-census years. Some are
available at the Nottinghamshire Archives. To find out more
about pre-1841 census and special census returns, see: Here's
how the census worked in England: Each Registration District is
sub-divided into Sub-Dist