Canadian Census records are the official enumeration of the Canadian population. They are one of the most useful resources for family history researchers as they help you discover when and where your ancestors were born, names of parents, siblings (and neighbours), the year of immigration to Canada and other interesting details that may vary from decade to decade. You may discover names, ages, occupations, religion, relationships, marital status, births or deaths during the year, immigration and naturalization dates, and more. Ancestry offers indexes and images to Canadian censuses for every decade from 1851 to 1911, and censuses of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta from 1906 and 1916. Agricultural information is available for some census years as well.
1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia
In 1851 an act was passed that repealed previous census acts and called for a more effectual census taking of the Province of Canada, which was comprised of Canada East and Canada West. Meanwhile, both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had received instruction in 1849 from the Secretary of State that a census should be taken in 1851; a census was being conducted in England that same year and it was thought that all British colonies should likewise conduct a census.Though both of these censuses began in 1851, much of them were conducted in 1852. Therefore, sometimes this census is referred to as the Census of 1852.
- Search 1851 Census
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1851 Census
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1851 New Brunswick Census
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.
What Areas are Included: For the 1851 census each province/colony was divided into census districts. The 1851 census includes the areas of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Canada East (Lower Canada, or roughly Quebec), and Canada West (Upper Canada, or roughly Ontario).
Note: Not all of the 1851 census has survived, so this database does not contain a complete representation of the above areas. The missing areas are still listed in the browse portion of this database but are shown as non-links.
1861 Census of Canada
Since Canada didn’t officially become a country until 1867, the first national census wasn’t held until 1871. The 1861 Census of Canada is a collection of five provincial censuses. This database contains a name index to these censuses along with images of the original records. Due to the poor quality of the original filming, some images are unreadable or very difficult to read. As a result, some names may not appear in the index.
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.
What Areas are Included: Most of the areas are organized by census, polling, or enumeration district. This was generally done by county. Within each county records are organized by city, township, or village name. Censuses were taken throughout different times of the year in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Canada East (Lower Canada, or roughly southern Quebec), and Canada West (Upper Canada, or roughly southern Ontario).They are currently missing records for the townships of South Dumfries, Oakland, Tuscarora, and Onondaga, and the village of Paris in Brant County, Ontario. These records will be added in a future update.
Note: Not all of the 1861 censuses have survived, so this database does not contain a complete representation of the above areas.
1871 Census of Canada
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. This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1871 Canada Census, the first census of Canada since confederation in 1867. National censuses have been taken every 10 years since 1871 and every five years since 1971.
Due to the poor quality of the original filming, some images are unreadable or very difficult to read. As a result, some names may not appear in the index.
What Areas are Included: For the 1871 census each province was divided into census districts. The 1871 census includes the four original provinces – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario.
1881 Census of Canada
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.
- Search 1881 Census – This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1881 Canada Census, the second census of Canada since confederation in 1867. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1881 Census (images are of Library and Archives Canada microfilm reels C-13162 to C-13286).
What Areas are Included: For the 1881 census each province was divided into census districts. The 1881 census includes seven provinces – British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec – and the Northwest Territories, which at the time consisted of modern-day Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador, Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories.
1891 Census of Canada
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.
- Search 1891 Census – This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1891 Canada Census, the third census of Canada since confederation in 1867. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1891 Census (images are of Library and Archives Canada microfilm reels T-6290 to T-6427).
What Areas are Included: For the 1891 census each province was divided into census districts. The 1891 census includes seven provinces – British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec – and the Northwest Territories, which at the time was comprised of the districts of Alberta, Assiniboia East, Assiniboia West, Saskatchewan, and Mackenzie River. Other unorganized territories are also included.
1901 Census of Canada
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.
- Search 1901 Census – This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1901 Canada Census, the fourth census of Canada since confederation in 1867. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1901 Census (images are of reels T-6428 to T-6556).
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1901 English Census
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1901 French Census
What Areas are Included: For the 1901 census each province was divided into census districts. The 1901 census includes seven provinces – British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec; two territories – the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories*; and one district – the District of Keewatin.
*In 1901 the Northwest Territories was comprised of these seven districts: Alberta, Assiniboia, Athabasca, Franklin, Mackenzie, Saskatchewan, and Ungava.
NOTE: The following districts in Quebec are currently missing from this database: Argenteuil, Bagot, Beauharnois, Bellechase, Berthier. Likewise, there are several sub-districts that are missing or contain errors. Ancestry is aware of these problems and is currently working to update and improve this index.
1906 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
The population of Canada’s western half grew significantly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed and immigrants began to settle in the area. The province of Manitoba, which was originally created in 1870 and was comprised basically of the city of Winnipeg, continued to expand in size over the years. In 1905 its borders were redefined as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created.
Because these provinces did not exist (except for Manitoba to some degree) in 1901 when the previous census was conducted and because the government wanted to keep track of the rising population in these regions of the country, a special census of the Prairie provinces was ordered to be taken in 1906. A separate census was taken for the Prairie provinces 5 years after every national census from 1906-1956. In 1956 national censuses began being taken every 5 years.
Individuals were to be enumerated at their usual place of abode, even if they were not at that residence on the day of enumeration. The head of household was to be enumerated first, followed by other members of the household listed ‘in regular order’. The head of household was responsible for providing all of the information about the household to the enumerator.
- Search 1906 Census – This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1906 Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1906 Census located on the Library and Archives Canada website (images are of reels T-18353 to T-18363).
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1906 Census
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1906 Nova Scotia Census
What Areas are Included: For the 1906 census each province was divided into census districts. The 1906 census included the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
1911 Census of Canada
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.
- Search 1911 Census – This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1911 Canada Census, the fifth census of Canada since confederation in 1867. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1911 Census (images are of reels T-20326 to T-20460).
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1911 A1 Census
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1911 English Census
- Free Canadian Census Form for the 1911 French Census
What Areas are Included: For the 1911 census each province was divided into census districts. The 1911 census includes nine provinces – Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, and two territories – the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories.
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.
1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
The population of Canada’s western half grew significantly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed and immigrants began to settle in the area. The province of Manitoba, which was originally created in 1870 and was comprised basically of the city of Winnipeg, continued to expand in size over the years. In 1905 its borders were redefined as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created.
Beginning in 1906 a special census of the Prairie provinces was taken 5 years after every national census from 1906-1956. In 1956 national censuses began being taken every 5 years. These special censuses allowed the government to keep track of the rising population in these regions of the country.
- Search 1916 Census – This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1916 Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and also includes images of the original census documents.
What Areas are Included: For the 1916 census each province was divided into census districts. The 1916 census included the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
