1871 Canadian Census

The 1871 Canadian Census was the first national census of Canada. It began on April 2, 1871 and included more than 3.4 million individuals who resided in Canada at the time. Additional Canadian censuses took place every 10 years, and they are rich resources for those interested in genealogy.

Canada provinces in 1870-1871

The 1871 census includes four modern-day Canadian provinces, which joined together to become the Dominion of Canada in 1867:

• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Quebec

The census provided the following information about each living individual: name, sex, age, country or province of birth, religion, origin, occupation, and marital status. If someone was born or married in the last 12 months, the month of the birth or marriage was provided.

The province of Manitoba was not included, but it had its own census done in 1870. The Northwest Territories were not included either, as they first appeared in the 1881 Canadian Census. Additional provinces appeared in later Canadian censuses as they joined the confederation.

The census can be searched in MyHeritage's 1871 Canada Censuscollection. An index is also available at the Library and Archives Canada, which includes digitized images. A heads of household index is available for Ontario only.

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Header information

Header information for the 1871 Canadian Census

1. Province

2. District Number

3. District Name

4. Sub-District

5. Name of Enumerator

6. Page Number

The 1871 Canadian Census was divided into districts and sub-districts in each of the four provinces. The districts were often counties, though they were sometimes cities or towns, such as the example above (Kingston). The sub-districts were smaller sections of the larger districts. Here is a list of all districts and sub-districts in 1871 Canada. Prior to the digitization of records, the districts and sub-districts were needed to find the relevant microfilm number to view records.

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Column information

Column information for the 1871 Canadian Census

The columns of the 1871 Canadian Census reveal the questions asked of the residents of Canada.

Location

Columns 1 through 5 provide details about the location. It was either a sea-going vessel (1), a shanty (2), a dwelling house in construction (3), an uninhabited dwelling house (4), or an inhabited dwelling house (5). Most residents were recorded with a mark ("1" or "|") under column 5, indicating they lived in an inhabited dwelling house.

Family count

Column 6 was a number assigned to each family as a way to separate them in census returns.

Name

Column 7 was the name of the individual. This was typically recorded as surname first, given name second – for example: Smith, John. Middle initials were sometimes provided but not always.

Personal information

The remaining columns were dedicated to personal information about each individual:

• Column 8: Sex. M (male) or F (female) as provided to the enumerator
• Column 9: Age. The age of each individual at the time of the census
• Column 10: Born within the last twelve months. The month of birth, if born in the past year.
• Column 11: Country or Province of Birth. The country the person was born in, if they were born outside of Canada. Otherwise, the name of the province or territory they were born in.
  • Common abbreviations: A or Alb (Alberta), B or BC (British Columbia), L (Labrador), M or Man (Manitoba), N or NF (New Foundland), NB (New Brunswick), NS (Nova Scotia), NWT (Northwest Territories) O (Ontario), P or PEI (Prince Edward Island), Q or Que (Quebec), S or Sask (Saskatchewan), Yuk (Yukon).
• Column 12: Religion. The religion the individual claimed to belong to.
  • Common abbreviations: BC (Christian Bible), C E (Church of England), C S (Church of Scotland), EMC (Episcopal Methodist Church), FC (Free Church Presbyterian), MEC (Methodist Episcopal Church), PCLP (Presbyterian Canada and Lower Provinces), PFC (presbyterian Free Church), RP (Reformed Presbyterian), RC (Roman Catholic), RP (Reformed Presbyterian), UP (United Presbyterian), WM (Wesleyan Methodist).
• Column 13: Origin. As provided by the individual questioned, typically the ethnicity they most identify with, for example Irish or Scotch.
• Column 14: Profession, Occupation or Trade. What the individual does for a living, as provided in full. This field was skipped for those who did not have a regular occupation.
• Column 15: Married or widowed. Typically "M" for married or "W" for widow. May also appear as S (single), D (divorced), or LS (legally separated).
• Column 16: Married within the last twelve months. The month was inserted under the husband's row when this field was relevant.
• Column 17: Going to school. Yes or no, if they are attending school. Often filled in with "1" or "|" when yes.
• Column 18: Over 20 unable to read. Yes or no. Often filled in "1" or "|" when yes.
• Column 19: Over 20 unable to write. Yes or no. Often filled in "1" or "|" when yes.
• Column 20: Deaf and Dumb. Yes or no. Often filled in "1" or "|" when yes.
• Column 21: Blind. Yes or no. Often filled in "1" or "|" when yes.
• Column 22: Unsound mind. Yes or no. Often filled in "1" or "|" when yes.

Additional documents

All of the above applies to Schedule 1, "Nominal return of the living." This recorded all living individuals in Canada and is what we know as the 1871 Canadian Census. It is good to know that an additional set of records were compiled for those who passed away in the last 12 months (Schedule 2), "Nominal return of the deaths." This included the name of each individual, the month of death and cause of death. These are available only through the Library and Archives Canada. Utilize the Schedule Finding Aid to locate the appropriate digital microfilm number to view the records online here.

Citing the 1871 Canadian Census

Here is an example for citing the 1871 Canadian Census:

Census of Canada, 1871, [District #], [District Name], [Sub-district]. Schedule 1, [Page #], [Family #], [Name of Person]. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/ Library and Archives Canada.

See also

• Canadian census records
• Canada
• U.S. census records

Explore more about the 1871 Canadian Census

• Search the 1871 Canadian Census on MyHeritage
• Census of Canada, 1871 on Library and Archives Canada
• Making the Most of Canadian Census Records on Family Tree Webinars
• Districts and Sub-districts, Census of Canada, 1871 on Library and Archives Canada
• Dominion of Canada, 1871 to 1931 on Library and Archives Canada

References

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