Peru, Municipal Census - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
Perú, censo municipal

Record Description
This collection will include the census records for the city of Lima from the corresponding censuses of 1831, 1860, and 1866. These records are kept at the Biblioteca Municipal de Lima.

The records are in Spanish; see the section "For Help Reading these Records" for translation helps.

Record Content
The information in each record varies by year.

The 1866 Census records generally include the following:


 * Address of house
 * Name
 * Gender
 * Birthplace
 * Age
 * Length of residence in Peru and said city
 * Religion
 * Marital status (whether single, married, widowed, or divorced)
 * Occupation of what type of goods (industry)
 * Whether can read and/or write

How to Use the Record
The main genealogical function of census records is to track a family’s movement within Peru. But they can also be used to estimate birth, marriage, and death years. These records are more useful if you can find a family/ancestor in each census (1831, 1860, and 1866) and compare the information from each.

When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships.

Search the Collection
To search by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the “Locality" category ⇒ Select the “Record type and years" category which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Spanish. For help reading the records see the following guides:


 * Spanish Genealogical Word List
 * Reading Spanish handwritten records
 * Script tutorial for Spanish

Using the Information
Use the age of each member to estimate a birth year and/or month, then check the civil records of his/her birthplace; the following records are available online at FamilySearch.org:


 * Peru, Puno, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Lima, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Lambayeque Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, La Libertad, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Junín, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Perú, Huánuco Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Cusco, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Callao, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Cajamarca, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Arequipa, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru, Amazonas, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru Civil Registration

Use the religion to search for baptism, marriage, and burial records in Lima or the parishes surrounding Lima:


 * Peru Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru Deaths (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Peru Church Records

Tips to Keep in Mind
Remember that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Continue to search the indexes and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have lived in the same area or a nearby area.

Related Websites
Free video course on FamilySearch.org:


 * Registros Parroquiales - Spanish
 * Documentos esenciales para buscar a sus antepasados - Spanish
 * Tesoros ocultos en los registros originales - Spanish

Related Wiki Articles

 * Peru Census
 * Peru

Citations for this Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection citation:

Image citation: