Canada, Nova Scotia Census, 1861 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
These records include the 1861 census for the province of Nova Scotia. The census day was March 30, 1860.

Census takers were asked to record information about all those who were in each household on the census day, as well as any who have died since that day. A census taker might have visited a house on a later date, but the information he collected was supposed to be about the people who were in the house on the census day. Enumeration was by census district.

Census districts were voting districts, not counties, although most have the same names as counties. For the most part, census districts were synonymous with cities and counties, and sub districts were synonymous with towns, townships, and city wards. Villages, small towns, and parishes were generally enumerated as part of the township in which they were located. Census district and county boundaries were not always the same, and there were many variations from location to location. Canadian census records were taken to enumerate the population for representation, taxation, and other purposes.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Census • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The name of a relative or date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Consult the Nova Scotia Record Finder to find other records
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This can help you find possible relatives
 * Search the records of nearby areas
 * Check for other names. An individual might appear under an unexpected name for a variety of reasons:
 * They might have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name
 * A woman may have returned to her maiden name after the death of her husband

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Nova Scotia.
 * Nova Scotia Guided Research
 * Nova Scotia Record Finder

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * edited by Terrence M. Punch with George F. Sanborn, Jr., Genealogist's handbook for Atlantic Canada research 2nd ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1997, c1989 FS Library 971.5 D27pt 1997
 * Terrence M. Punch, Genealogical research in Nova Scotia 4th ed. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Pub., c1998 FS Library 971.6 D27p 1998
 * The Nova Scotia genealogist Halifax, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia, 1983- FS Library 971.6 D25n
 * Genealogy/biography card index to materials in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia collection, ca. 1650-1990
 * Census of Canada, 1861
 * Census records and poll tax rolls for Nova Scotia, 1770-1838

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.