Hi Nick.
We are governed by forms and dates, but our ancestors weren't. A friend has an ancestor who aged 20 years between each census. It would only ever be important if you were old enough to do something: start work, get married and possibly to receive a pension. Even if there were nice family bible, with all the details carefully written down, the chances were that it wouldn't be consulted when the enumerator came round.
How the form was filled in would depend on how the questions were asked. They were supposed to be put in a certain way, but probably weren't.
Google "filling in the census" Punch for some contemporary scenarios.
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The chestnuts cast their flambeaux
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