Parish of Birsay in 1841

The person appointed by the Sheriff to divide the Parish was George Louttit the schoolmaster in the Barony. Thomas Blyth signed as the Minister of the Parish of Harray and Birsay but his name is not recorded as present in either place.
No persons were listed as sleeping outside or in boats, barns etc.

Enumeration District 1 containing 161 houses with Enumerator George Louttit is described as:
So much of the parish of Birsay as lies within the limits of the Barony of Birsay.

Enumeration District 2 containing 54 houses with Enumerator John Robertson is described as:
So much of the parish of Birsay as lies within the townships of Swannayside, Above the Hill and Hundland lying East of the Barony.

Enumeration District 3 containing 32 houses with Enumerator George Brown is described as:
So much of the parish of Birsay as lies within the limits of the townships of Tormiston, Kirbister and the Hillside East of the Barony.

Enumeration District 4 containing 76 houses with Enumerator George Home is described as:
So much of the parish of Birsay as lies within the limits of the townships of Twatt, Greeny, Sobiston and Beaquoy lying South East of the Barony.

Enumeration District 5 containing 73 houses with Enumerator Andrew Hourry is described as:
That part of the parish of Birsay as lies within the limits of the townships of Isbister, Folster and Marwick lying South of the Barony.

Remarks of Sheriff
The average rate of mortality in the parish of Birsay within the last ten years has been about 20 being at the rate of 1.21 percent of the population of 1831. The average number of births in the parish within the same period has been about 35 and the average number of marriages about 8.
There has been no Emigration from the parish of Birsay within the last six months, but since the Census of 1831 was taken two families consisting of sixteen individuals emigrated to Canada. Six individuals belonging to the parish of Birsay went this spring to the Davis Straits whale fishery, and about the same number were absent at the period of taking the Census in the merchant service in vessels sailing from Greenock.

By the Census of 1831 the population was 1652
By the Census of 1841 it is1634
Decrease18

In 1836 & 1837, 26 young men belonging to the parish of Birsay perished in the whalers which were beset with the ice at Davis Straits in these years.
Chas Shirreff  Sheriff Substitute of Orkney