Canada Census, 1891 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Canada

What is in This Collection?
The official day of the 1891 census for Canada, was taken was April 6, 1891. This is important because it represents the population on that exact day.

Census schedules were taken on large sheets of paper with pre-printed rows and columns. The categories are in both English and French. The schedules were organized by province and then by census districts and sub districts. This collection of the 1891 census contains the population schedules for the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories (Alberta, Assiniboia, and Saskatchewan).

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

Census
 * Full name
 * Gender
 * Age
 * Approximate year of birth
 * Marital status
 * Religion
 * Town, village, township, or sub-district of residence

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
 * Use the ages listed to determine approximate birth dates and find the family in additional censuses
 * Use the information found in the record to find church and vital records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the 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?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
 * Search in the FamilySearch Library Catalog

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Canada.
 * Canada Record Finder
 * Canada Research Tips and Strategies

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Doris Bourrie. Researching Canadian census records. 2nd ed. Toronto, Ontario : Heritage Productions, 2003. FHL 971 X27b 2003
 * Dave Obee ; Jutta Missal, ed., Counting Canada : a genealogical guide to the Canadian census Victoria, British Columbia : D. Obee, c2012. FHL 971 X27o
 * prepared by Thomas A. Hillman = Recensement de 1891, instrument de recherche / préparé par Thomas A. Hillman, Census of 1891, finding aid Ottawa, Ontario : Federal Archives Division, Public Archives of Canada, 1986 FHL 971 X23h
 * Census schedules, 1891

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Canada Census, 1901
 * Canada Census, 1881

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.

Censo de Canadá, 1891 - Registros históricos de FamilySearchCanadá, Censo, 1891 (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)