Specialized Information in Canadian Censuses, 1851-1891 - International Institute

The amount of information collected varied from census to census. Some years provide special information not available in all records. It is useful to know what specialized information may be found in the various records, and how to make use of this information.

1851 Census - taken 12 January 1852
This census, although often referred to as the “1851 Census” was not actually taken until January, 1852. Commissioners for each county and city had received their appointments by November and December, 1851. These commissioners would then appoint individual enumerators to cover a specific area. The actual enumeration was to begin in January, 1852.

The age reported for this census was to be the ‘age next birthday’, as of the enumeration date, 12 January 1852. Therefore, for the purpose of the 1851 census, the age reflected in this census enumeration would be the age of the individual in 1852, not their age in 1851.

Columns were provided in this census to indicate married or single; type of house; residents of house including members and non-members; number of family members absent; deaths during the year 1851, age and cause of death, male or female.

1861 Census - taken 14 January
The information gathered for the 1861 census was very similar to that obtained in 1851. In some scattered areas the enumerators appear to have misunderstood the instructions regarding the column “Married during the Year.” This was meant to indicate any couple that married during 1861, but some enumerators filled the actual year of marriage in this column, giving an unintended bonus to the genealogist. Some of these entries were later corrected, but a few still remain.

The 1861 census records for Ontario and Québec have a separate Agricultural census section. The Agricultural section was appended to the microfilm at the end of the entire county, and is listed by township within the county. To access agricultural information on your family you may have to search two reels of microfilm, one containing the nominal listing for your township or locality, and one containing the Agricultural section for the county. Both of these reel numbers will be indicated in the Library and Archives Canada finding aid. It is recommended that you search the entire Agricultural section for your county, as there is a possibility of pages being out of order.

1870 Census (Manitoba only)
This census has columns to indicate Name; Where Domiciled; Where Born; Age; Name of Father; Metis, White, Indian; Married or not married; Widowed; British Subject; American; Metis French or Metis English; Catholic or Protestant.

1871 Census - taken as of 2 April
This census is the only existing census which includes the information for all nine schedules for each enumeration district. The 1st Schedule is the Nominal return of the living, and the remaining 8 Schedules follow in order for each enumeration division. A list of these schedules is given in the Library and Archives Canada finding aid,Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm 1666-1891/Catalogue de recensements sur microfilm 1666-1891, Ottawa: National Archives of Canada, 1987, page ix. The Index to the 1871 census, compiled by The Ontario Genealogical Society, is available online at Library and Archives Canada. The index covers heads of household and strays.

Schedule 2 is a nominal return of deaths within the last twelve months. Schedule 4 is a return of cultivated land, and agricultural products. It is possible to cross-reference your family located in Schedule 1 to any of these schedules for further family information. Refer to the example of Felix Keenan, Kingston Township for the 1871 rural census. By using the page and line number for Felix Keenan it is possible to cross-reference his family to any of the nine schedules contained in the 1871 census, although Schedule 2 and Schedule 4 will be the ones most often consulted. The 1871 census for Prince Edward Island does not appear to have survived.

1881 Census - taken as of 4 April
The 1881 census contained Schedules similar to the 1871 census, but only Schedule 1: Nominal return of the living, has survived. In Prince Edward Island the enumeration was taken by Lot only, and entries will be found under the appropriate Lot number.

1891 Census - taken as of 6 April
In this census, Institutions were enumerated all in one separate group, appearing on reel T-6427. Again, the only section of this census which has survived is Schedule 1: Nominal return of the living. The enumeration for Prince Edward Island was taken by Lot number.

The advantage of this census is that Schedule 1 included birthplaces for each individual, as well as birthplaces for the father and mother of the individual. Therefore, even though the father and mother of the head of the house and his wife are not named in this census, you will have some indication of their place of birth. This is helpful, but should be looked at with some skepticism, as illustrated in the following example.

Census Record for Henry and Ann Cusack
The family of Henry P. Cusack and his wife Anne, is found in the 1891 Ontario census, District 93, West Middlesex, Sub-District G, Newbury, page 8, line 24, continuing on page 9, family number 46.

Henry P. Cusack household, 1891 Census of Canada, Ontario, Middlesex County (West) (district 93), Newbury (Village) (sub-district G), page 8, line 24; microfilm T-6354, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa.



Census Record for Joseph Cusack
On page 9 of the same census is the listing for Joseph Cusack, son of Henry and Anne Cusack, line 9, family number 49. [Relationship documented from other research.]

Listing for Joseph Cusack, son of Henry and Anne Cusack, line 9, family number 49. (Relationship documented from other research.) The census information for Joseph indicates that Joseph was born in Ontario, while his mother and father were both born in Ireland. The previous example indicated that his mother and father were born in Ontario.

Joseph Cusack household, 1891 Census of Canada, Ontario, Middlesex County (West) (district 93), Newbury (Village) (sub-district G), page 9, line 9; microfilm T-6354, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa.



Census Record for William J. Fisher
This record lists William J. Fisher as head of house, with his wife Catherine. It also lists Alice Pirie as a niece, with her children, who are listed as grandchildren of the Head of the House. Obviously further information is needed to establish if Alice is really a daughter of William J. Fisher, or his niece, as reported in the census.

William J. Fisher household, 1901 Census of Canada, Ontario, Ontario County (South) (district 98), Oshawa (Town) (sub-district 3), page 19, line 19; microfilm T-6486, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa.



The census indicates that Henry and Anne were both born in Ontario. Henry’s father is listed as born in Ireland, and his mother born in Ontario. Anne’s father and mother are both listed as born in Ireland.

The census information for Joseph indicates that Joseph was born in Ontario, while his mother and father were both born in Ireland. Again, this demonstrates the fact that the information provided regarding any individual may or may not be accurate. You must consider both entries as possibilities when continuing with your research.

1901 Census - taken as of 31 March
For this census most of the Indian agencies were enumerated separately from their geographic area and will be found on reels T-6554 and T-6555. Digital images of this census are available on the Library and Archives Canada website. This particular census included important information not previously collected. Columns were provided for the collection of the following specific information:


 * The relationship of each person to the head of the family... This is especially helpful if brothers, sisters, parents or other relations are living with the family. It also indicates for the first time that the children are indeed sons or daughters. In previous census records this information was not spelled out, and children listed were assumed to be sons or daughters, but may also have been adopted children or step-children, or nieces or nephews.

This information can be very useful to the researcher, but again should be looked at carefully and perhaps authenticated through further research.

Example: William J. Fisher household, 1901 Ontario census. This record lists William J. Fisher as head of house, with his wife Catherine. It also lists Alice Pirie as a niece, with her children, who are listed as grandchildren of the Head of the House. Obviously further information is needed to establish if Alice is really a daughter of William J. Fisher, or his niece, as reported in the census.


 * Single, married, widowed, divorced... For the first time an indication of a possible divorce may be found in the census records.


 * Month and date of birth/year of birth... Each person’s date of birth was recorded. This information is very helpful, although again there have been instances when the information given has not agreed with actual birth registration information located. However, it does provide a useful guide to look for a birth record. Age was the age at the last birthday.


 * Year of immigration to Canada and year of naturalization. This is very helpful information to give the researcher a starting point to search for immigration or naturalization records, and passenger lists. As with all information given to the enumerator, memories may be faulty or information inaccurate, but at least a suggested time period is provided for the researcher.


 * Additional statistics regarding employment... This census listed type of employment or self-employment, wages, months employed, wages earned, and other statistics not previously enumerated.

1901 Census (Yukon Territory)
Information collected for the Yukon Territory was slightly different from the other 1901 census enumeration. Headings included were: No. of Dwelling; No. of Family; Name of each person in family; Sex; Colour; Relationship to head of family; Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced; Age Last Birthday; Place of Birth; Date arrival in Canada; When Naturalized; Years in Yukon; Present Nationality; Occupation; Position; Salary; second page included real estate information and location; Racial origins; Religion; School information; Mother tongue; Infirmities.

A separate Absentee List was appended to each section. Instructions to the enumerator indicated that this should “include all names of those absent from the Yukon Territory, but who were in the Yukon for any period over 10 days between 15 March and 1st October, 1901; also names absent, but gone to some other part of the Yukon; also names in district too remote to visit, but whose names you can secure.”

The enumerator was instructed to list at the bottom “the number of those in your district whose names you cannot secure”. The instructions to list any person present between 15 March and 1st October, 1901 suggests that this census may not have been completed until after 1st October 1901.

1906 Census - taken as of 24 June
The 1906 census of the Northwest Provinces was taken to document the high rate of population growth in Western Canada, and covers the Province of Manitoba, and the newly created Provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta only. It contains individual’s name and relationship to the head of household; sex; marital status (married, single, widowed or divorced); Age; Country or place of birth; Year of Immigration to Canada; Post Office Address; Location, which includes Section, Township, Range and Meridian; and Agricultural statistics regarding livestock. Digital images of this census are available on the Library and Archives Canada website, with a finding aid to locate the appropriate census district and sub-district.

1911 Census - taken as of 1 June
For this census enumerators of the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories were permitted to record information before 1 June. Enumeration of unorganized areas, including the territories, used an abbreviated census form; therefore, for some individuals, less information will have been recorded. Digital images of this census are available on the Library and Archives Canada website. This particular census included “Place of habitation” on Schedule 1, Nominal Return of Living Persons.


 * The relationship of each person to the head of the family... This is especially helpful if brothers, sisters, parents or other relations are living with the family. Other than the 1901 census, in previous census records this information was not spelled out, and children listed were assumed to be sons or daughters, but may also have been adopted children or step-children, or nieces or nephews. This information can be very useful to the researcher, but again should be looked at carefully and perhaps authenticated through further research.


 * Single, married, widowed, divorced... For the second time an indication of a possible divorce may be found in the census records.


 * Month of birth/year of birth... Each person’s month of birth was recorded. This information is very helpful, although again there have been instances when the information given has not agreed with actual birth registration information located. However, it does provide a useful guide to look for a birth record. Age was the age at the last birthday.


 * Year of immigration to Canada and year of naturalization... This is very helpful information to give the researcher a starting point to search for immigration or naturalization records, and passenger lists. As with all information given to the enumerator, memories may be faulty or information inaccurate, but at least a suggested time period is provided for the researcher.


 * Additional statistics regarding employment... This census listed type of employment or self-employment, wages, months employed, wages earned, and other statistics not previously enumerated.

1916 Census - taken as of 1 June
This “Western Census” was released in August 2008 and consists of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Although British Columbia was a western province in Canada during that time, it was not included in this enumeration. This census is currently only available on microfilm from Library and Archives Canada. The list of microfilm reel numbers can be found on LAC's Genealogy and Family History website.

Information and links regarding this special census can be found in the CanadaGenealogy, or, ‘Jane’s Your Aunt’ blog, dated August 21, 2008.

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