Canada Census, 1851 - FamilySearch Historical Records

This article describes a collection availble for free online on the FamilySearch Record Search--Pilot Site. An index of the collection can be accessed by following the link Canada Census 1851 Index

Collection Time Period:
Colonial, provincial, and local governments conducted censuses in 1851.

Collection History:
The census for 1851 was conducted in January 1852. The completed forms were sent to the Board of Registration and Statistics and later to the Department of Agriculture. 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 subdistricts 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.

Why this Collection Was Created:
Canadian census records were taken to enumerate the population for representation, taxation, and other purposes.

Collection Reliability:
Censuses are generally reliable, depending on the knowledge of the informant and the care taken by the census enumerator. Information may have been given to a census taker by any family member or by a neighbor, so some information may be incorrect or may have been deliberately falsified.

Collection Description:
Census returns are recorded on large sheets of paper that are divided into rows and columns. The schedules were arranged by province and then further divided into census districts and subdistricts.

How to Use the Collection:
Canadian census records are the best source to use for quickly identifying a family group and residence. Use the place of residence and the birthplace for each individual, along with his or her age to search for other record types. The census lists other persons living in the same household and may identify individuals for whom other records do not exist. Returns for many counties are incomplete. Returns are missing for the following counties: Shefford and Stanstead counties (Québec); Russell and Simcoe counties (Ontario); Gloucester, Kent, and Queens Counties (New Brunswick) as well as the City of Saint John (New Brunswick); all counties of Nova Scotia except Halifax and Kings.

Collection Content:

 * Important genealogical information in the 1851census:
 * Full name
 * Age at next birthday (can be used to calculate approximate birth year)
 * Sex
 * Religion
 * Occupation
 * Whether married or single
 * Whether born during
 * Cause of death during year
 * Town, village, or township of residence