Canada Census

This is the umbrella project for Canada Censuses.

Census returns are official Government of Canada records that enumerate the country’s population. They are an invaluable source of information as they often include the age, occupation, ethnic origin, religious denomination and the place of birth for the persons listed.

For each census, the records are arranged by province or territory, and then are divided into districts which usually correspond to counties and cities. Districts are typically divided into sub-districts, corresponding to townships, parishes and larger towns.

From 1851 to 1901, a census occurred every 10 years in Canada; this was confirmed by the British North America Act (also known as the Constitution Act, 1867). The original purpose of the census was to help determine parliamentary representation based on population.

According to the Census and Statistics Act (which received Royal Assent on May 16, 1905) a general census of Canada was to occur in 1911, and every 10 years thereafter, and a census of population and agriculture was to be taken in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1906, and every 10 years thereafter.

Library and Archives Canada

LAC 1851 Search

Automated Genealogy - Indices to Canadian Censuses

Under Construction

• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• New Brunswick
• Quebec
• Ontario 1851 1861
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Northwest Territories
• Yukon Territory

Searchable Collections

Canadian Census Collection-Ancestry

Canada Census, 1851-FamilySearch

1851

Enumerator Instructions: Different forms were used for the enumeration of Canada East and West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. In Canada East and West every person who sojourned in the house on the night of Sunday, 11 January 1851, as well as individuals who usually lived at the house, but were absent on that night, were to be enumerated. The following questions were asked by enumerators:

• Name
• Profession, trade, or occupation
• Birthplace (Those born of Canadian parents were denoted with an ‘F’)
• Religion
• Residence, if outside of limits (the address of those who were not enumerated ad their usual place of abode)
• Age at next birthday
• Gender
• Marital status
• Whether a coloured person
• Whether Native Canadian
• Whether actually a family member of the household
• Whether not a family member of the household
• Whether a member of the family, but not present
• Whether deaf and dumb, blind, or a lunatic
• Whether attending school
• Whether born during the year 1851
• Whether died during the year 1851
• If died, age and cause of death

Other information regarding homes and buildings was also recorded.

In Nova Scotia, the following information was obtained:

• Name of head of household
• Number of household members in various categories, including age and gender
• Whether deaf and dumb, blind, lunatic, or idiot
• Whether a Native Canadian
• Whether a coloured person
• Occupation
• Religion

Additional information regarding buildings, properties, land, and various occupations and manufacturers was also obtained.

In New Brunswick the following questions were asked:

• Name
• Gender
• Relationship
• Age
• Race – whether ‘White’, ‘Coloured’, or ‘Indian’
• Rank or occupation
• Date of entering the colony
• Whether sick or infirm

1861

Enumerator Instructions: Different forms were used for the enumerations of Canada East and West, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island only recorded the names of the heads of households, while New Brunswick, Canada East and Canada West recorded the names of everyone in the household.

Some forms covered two or more pages, so when looking at the census images, it may be necessary to navigate forwards and backwards in order to see an entire person’s (or household’s) enumeration.

In Canada East and West the census recorded the names of every person who abode in the house on the night of Sunday, January the 13th, 1861. This included both residents and transient passengers. Individuals who were absent the night of the 13th were to be enumerated in the place in which they were usually resident. The following questions asked by enumerators included:

• Name
• Profession, trade or occupation
• Birthplace
• Married during the year
• Religion
• Residence, if out of limits
• Age at next birthday
• Gender
• Marital status – married, single, widower, or widow
• Whether a colored person, mulatto, or Indian
• Whether a family member or non-family member
• Whether an absent family member
• Whether deaf and dumb, blind, lunatic, or idiot
• Children attending school within the year
• Persons over 20 who cannot read or write
• Number and gender of births in 1860
• Number and gender of deaths in 1860 - Age and cause of death

Other information regarding homes, buildings, farms, and businesses were also recorded.

The New Brunswick census covered the entire province. The official enumeration date is said to have been August 15th. However, most of the enumerations were completed later that year. This census included the following questions:

• Name
• Gender
• Relationship to head of family
• Age
• Race and where born
• Rank or occupation
• Children at school within the year
• Whether sick, infirm, deaf and dumb, blind, lunatic or idiot
• Births in the previous year
• Deaths in the previous year
• Marriages in the previous year

The Nova Scotia census covered the entire province and listed just the heads of households. The following information was obtained:

• Name of head of household
• Total number of males and females in the household according to age categories
• Number of births since March 30, 1860
• Number of deaths in the household since March 30, 1860 according to age categories
• Marital status
• Number of deaf and dumb, blind, lunatic, or idiot according to gender
• Number of individuals that cannot read and write according to age and gender categories
• Number of individuals married since March 30, 1860

The census of Prince Edward Island enumerated the heads of families. The following information was recorded:

• Name of head of household
• Trade, profession, or occupation
• Number of males and females in the household according to age categories
• Number of deaf and dumb, blind and insane in each family
• Number who have not been vaccinated or had the small pox in each family
• Total number in each family (including servants and apprentices)
• Number of married and single persons in each family
• Number of your family married during the past year
• Number of births and deaths in your family during the past year
• Number of persons in the family associated with various religions

Other questions regarding the family’s home and land were also asked.

1871

Enumerator Instructions: The 1871 Census was begun on 2 April 1871. Answers to census questions were to reflect the individual’s status as of April 2nd, regardless of the day the enumeration actually took place.

The following questions were asked by enumerators:

• Number of family, household, or institution in order of visitation
• Name of each person in family or household
• Sex (M = Male; F = Female)
• Age
• Born within the last twelve months
• Country or province of birth
• Religion
• Origin (Ethnic Background)
• Profession, occupation, or trade
• Married or Widowed
• Married within last twelve months
• Instruction – (1) going to school, (2) over 20 unable to read, (3) over 20 unable to write
• Infirmities – (1) deaf and dumb, (2) blind, (3) unsound mind

1881

Enumerator Instructions:

The 1881 Census was begun on 4 April 1881 and was to enumerate every individual in the country. Answers to census questions were to reflect the individual’s status as of April 4th, regardless of the day the enumeration actually took place. However, individuals who were absent on the day of enumeration were still to be counted in the place where they usually lived.

The head of household was to be enumerated first, followed by other members of the household. The following questions were asked by enumerators:

• Number of family, household, or institution in order of visitation
• Name of each person in family or household on 4 April 1881
• Sex (M = Male; F = Female)
• Age
• Born within the last twelve months
• Country or province of birth
• Religion
• Origin (Ethnic Background) – “Indian” was used for people of Native descent
• Profession, occupation, or trade
• Married or Widowed
• Going to school
• Whether deaf and dumb, blind, or of an unsound mind

1891

Enumerator Instructions: The 1891 Census was begun on 6 April 1891. The head of household was to be enumerated first, followed by other members of the household. The head of household was responsible for providing all of the information about the household to the enumerator. The following questions were asked by enumerators:

• Number of family, household, or institution in order of visitation
• Name of each person in family or household on 6 April 1891
• Relation to head of family or head of household
• Sex (M = Male; F = Female)
• Age
• Marital Status (Single, Married, Widowed, or Divorced)
• Country or province of birth
• Whether French Canadian
• Birthplace of father
• Birthplace of mother
• Religion
• Profession, occupation, or trade
• Employer
• Wage Earner
• Whether unemployed during the week preceding the census
• If an employer, state the average number of hands employed during the year
• Whether able to read and write
• Whether deaf and dumb, blind, or of an unsound mind

1901

Enumerator Instructions:

The 1901 Census was begun on 31 March 1901. Enumeration was to be completed within 30 days. Individuals were to be enumerated at their usual place of abode, even if they were not at that residence on the night of enumeration. The head of household was to be enumerated first, followed by other members of the household. The head of household was responsible for providing all of the information about the household to the enumerator.
The following questions were asked by enumerators:

• Number of family, household, or institution in order of visitation
• Name of each person in family or household on 31 March 1901
• Relation to head of family or head of household
• Sex (M = Male; F = Female)
• Colour
  • W = White (people of European descent)
  • R = Red (Native Canadians)
  • B = Black (people of African descent)
  • Y = Yellow (people of Japanese or Chinese descent)
• Marital Status (Single, Married, Widowed, or Divorced)
• Month and Date of Birth
• Year of Birth
• Age on Last Birthday
• Country or Place of Birth (if Canada, specify province or territory, add "R" for Rural and "U" for Urban; for people born outside of Canada, specify country)
• Year of immigration to Canada (or year moved to Canada from another country)
• Year of Naturalization
• Racial or Tribal Origin (traced through the father for those of European descent)
• Nationality
• Religion
• Profession or Occupation (if Retired, add "R")
• Living on Own Means (lived on income other than salary from work, i.e. annuities, pensions)
• Employer
• Employee
• Working on Own Account
• Working at Trade in Factory of in Home
• Months employed at Trade in Factory
• Months employed at Trade in Home
• Months employed in Other Occupation than in Trade in Factory or in Home
• Earnings from Occupation or Trade
• Extra Earnings (than from primary occupation or trade)
• Months at School in Year
• Can Read
• Can Write
• Can Speak English
• Can Speak French
• Mother Tongue (if spoken)
• Whether blind, deaf or dumb, or of an unsound mind

More specific enumerator instructions are available on the Library and Archives Canada website.

1911

Enumerator Instructions:

The 1911 Census was begun on 1 June 1911. Enumerators working in the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories were allowed to begin before 1 June. Individuals were to be enumerated at their usual place of abode, even if they were not at that residence on the night of enumeration. The head of household was to be enumerated first, followed by other members of the household. The head of household was responsible for providing all of the information about the household to the enumerator.

The following questions were asked by enumerators:

• Number of dwelling in order of visitation
• Number of family, household, or institution in order of visitation
• Name of each person whose place of abode was in the household
• Place of habitation
• Sex
• Relationship of person enumerated to the head of household
• Marital Status (Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced, or Legally Separated)
• Month of Birth
• Year of Birth
• Age at last birthday
• Country or Place of Birth (if Canada, specify province or territory)
• Year of immigration to Canada, if an immigrant
• Year of naturalization, if formerly an alien
• Racial or tribal origin
• Nationality
• Religion
• Chief occupation or trade
• Employment other than chief occupation or trade, if any
• Employer
• Employee
• Working on Own Account
• Where person is employed (e.g. "in drug store", "on farm", etc.)
• Weeks employed in 1910 at chief occupation or trade
• Weeks employed in 1910 at other than chief occupation, if any
• Hours of working time per week at chief occupation or trade
• Hours of working time per week at other occupation, if any
• Total earnings in 1910 from chief occupation or trade
• Total earnings in 1910 from other than chief occupation, if any
• Rate or earnings per hour, when employed by the hour
• Value of life or accident/sickness insurance
• Cost of insurance from 1 June 1910 - 1 June 1911
• Months at school in 1910
• Whether able to read and write
• Language(s) commonly spoken
• Cost of Education in 1910 for persons over 16 years old at college, convent, or university
• Whether blind, deaf or dumb, crazy or lunatic, idiotic or silly

Note: An abbreviated version of the census form was used to enumerate unorganized areas such as the territories. These abbreviated forms contained a subset of the above listed questions. Therefore, all of the above listed information will not be available for all individuals enumerated in the census.

1921

Questions the Census Asked
June 1, 1921, was the date for the 1921 census. Not every census form was filled out on that day, but questions were to be answered based on that date. Enumerators recorded answers to the following queries:

• number of dwelling in order of visitation
• number of family, household, or institution in order of visitation
• name of each person whose place of abode was in the household
• place of habitation
• tenure and class of home (owned or rented, rent paid, class of house, house occupied by family)
• sex
• relationship of person enumerated to the head of household
• marital status (single, married, widowed, divorced, or legally separated)
• age at last birthday
• country or place of birth (if Canada, specify province or territory)
• country or place of birth for person’s father and mother
• year of immigration to Canada, if an immigrant
• year of naturalization, if formerly an alien
• racial or tribal origin
• nationality (country to which person owes allegiance)
• can speak English
• can speak French
• religion
• can read and write
• months at school since September 1, 1920
• chief occupation or trade
• employment other than chief occupation or trade, if any
• employer, employee, worker, or working on own account
• principal product, where employed (e.g., ‘in drug store’, ‘on farm’, etc.), or nature of work
• total earnings in past 12 months
• currently out of work
• number of weeks unemployed in past 12 months
• number of weeks unemployed in past 12 months because of illness

Note: Forms for the Prairie Provinces differed slightly, and an abbreviated version of the census form was used to enumerate unorganized areas such as the territories. These abbreviated forms contained a subset of the questions on the long version of the census, so not all of the information listed above will be available for everyone enumerated in the census.