The modern census are taken every 10 years which officially started in 1801.

Before 1801 there were many surveys of people and places mainly regarding about the collection of taxes. 

Once famous survey is that recorded in the Domesday Book of 1068.

Domesday Book

Hempton was a settlement in Domesday Book, in the hundred of Brothercross and the county of Norfolk.

It had a recorded population of 8 households in 1086, putting it in the smallest 40% of settlements recorded in Domesday.

Land of William of Warenne

Households 

• Households: 4 freemen. 4 smallholders.

Land and resources 

• Ploughland: 1 men's plough teams.
• Other resources: 1 church. 0.008333 church lands.

Valuation 

• Annual value to lord: 3 shillings in 1086; 5 shillings in 1066.

Owners 

• Tenant-in-chief in 1086: William of Warenne
• Lord in 1086: William of Warenne