Canada Census, 1911 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Canada

What is in This Collection?
Enumeration for the 1911 census began 1 June 1911. These records include population schedules of the census. They also contain indexes to population schedules of the census. The official census date was June 1st. The national government of Canada has taken censuses every ten years since 1871, and every five years since 1971. Provinces in Canada were divided into districts, which were then subdivided into sub-districts. Each district received a number and each sub-district was assigned a second number. In the more-populated areas of Canada, schedule 1 was used to record the residence, date of birth, immigration information occupation and other details. In the less-populated areas, schedule A1 was used to record the month of birth, age, place of birth, the marital status, and religion.

Census records give you details about individuals and their families. They are useful for finding people and their families at a time and place. Census records are often checked first by researchers because a large amount of information may be given about individuals within a family group. Since the boundaries varied from census to census, it is not easy to tell which Census District an eastern Canadian township or western Canadian village was in.

Please note that most of the records in this collection are in English but the collection also contains some French records.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
'''Census records may include:
 * Name of each person in family
 * Place of residence
 * Relationship to head of household
 * Marital status
 * Date of birth
 * Place of birth
 * Gender

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 place of residence

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 civil records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * 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

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

 * Bourrie, Doris. Researching Canadian census records. 2nd ed. Toronto, Ontario : Heritage Productions, 2003. FS Library 971 X27b 2003
 * Dave Obee ; Jutta Missal, ed., Counting Canada : a genealogical guide to the Canadian census Victoria, British Columbia : D. Obee, c2012. FS Library 971 X27o
 * Fifth census schedule of Canada, 1911 : schedule 1, population
 * Census of the Northwest Provinces, 1906 : schedule 1, population and live stock

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.