Local History & Genealogy

Guide to Census Records

Getting Started

Census :  an official enumeration of populations that can help you discover birth dates, the names of parents and siblings, immigration details and much more.

Search the library's website for:

• census handbooks  for background and tips on using the censuses of various countries
• Add  location and year to the word "census"
• Use library recommended websites to discover a variety of  online census records.

    Suggested Titles:

 Finding answers in British Isles Census records . 

    Additional material on Great Britain census handbooks

 Guide to the United States census 1790 - 1930. 

    Additional material on the American censuses

Manual containing "The Census Act" and the instructions to officers employed in the taking of the first census of Canada (1871)  .

    Additonal material for 1871 census of Ontario.

Online Resources

Canadian Census Records Online

Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm 1666- 1901
Searchable online geographic index allows for identifying microfilm reel numbers for census returns. 

Electoral Atlas of the Dominion of Canada
Provides access to a set of detailed maps showing federal electoral boundaries. Most of the electoral districts described in this 1895 atlas are identical to the 1901 census districts. Detailed ward maps for cities are also available.

All  Canadian census returns from 1851 to 1916 have been digitized and are currently available on multiple websites in addition to Ancestry Library Edition.   Ancestry Library Edition can be used in any Toronto Public Library branch and has all Canadian censuses from 1851.

Below are websites that have census information. Note: some are indexes, some have images, some are only searachable geographically.

Library and Archives Canada : Censuses 

Gives an overview of the Census collection with links to LAC census databases and finding aids.  The microfilm of the 1916 census  has also been digitized. Details on census column headings, abbreviations and enumeration dates can also be found on their site.

Canadian Censuses on FamilySearch  includes provincial censuses prior to 1842, and censuses 1851 - 1906, and 1916. 1861 census is listed by province. FamilySearch is provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Automated Genealogy has indexed the 1852 census (Ontario and Quebec and New Brunswick), 1901, 1906 and 1911 censuses

OntarioRoots.com   has a Toronto Street Finder for ward and district for the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

The Programme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH), has the 1851/2 and 1881 census data.

Alberta Genealogical Society, Edmonton Branch   has indexed the 1901 census for Alberta and Saskatchewan.

 Newfoundland (prior to entering Confederation in 1949)

Transcriptions for various years Newfoundland (Newfoundland's Grand Banks Genealogical and Historical  Data)   Some are incomplete.

 

British and Irish Census Records Online

1841 - 1911 Census for England,Wales and Channel Islands   (FamilySearch)
  ( note: 1871 census is ~ 80% complete)

1901 Census of England and Wales
Free to search, pay to view records

1911 census of England and Wales
Free to search, pay to view records

IRELAND

Griffith's Valuation 1847 -1864
Griffith's is considered the Irish Census substitute.

Census of Ireland 1901/1911

 SCOTLAND

Scotlands People
Census records for 1841 - 1911. Free surname searches; pay to view records.

1841 - 1891 censuses  free on Family Search.

US Census Records Online

1790 - 1940 US censuses  (FamilySearch)
 Indexed and usually linked to images. Free

Digitized microfilm of 1790 - 1930 US census on Internet Archive. For help in using the microfilm try Donslist Finding Guides. 

Note: 1890 US census largely destroyed by fire.

In Library Resources

North York Central Library's Canadiana Department has all the available Canadian census records on microfilm. It also has an extensive collection of Ontario census indexes published by various genealogical organizations. The Toronto Reference Library  has microfilm census records for provinces outside Ontario. Prior to the 1911 census, its Ontario holdings are limited to Toronto & York County only. To identify which microfilm reel to search, consult the Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm 1666 - 1901 also available in paper format.  

The Toronto Reference Library's Humanities and Social Sciences Department houses many CD-ROMs and materials for U.S. and British and Irish census resources as well as early Quebec censuses (1660's) and the 1681 census of New France.

Ancestry Library Edition can be used on any computer in a Toronto Public Library branch, but is not available remotely.  It allows individual name searches, often with original images to:

Canadian censuses 1851 - 1916;  UK Census Collection for 1841 - 1911;  American  Census Records 1790 - 1940 and some European census records

Quebec Records.com  (available at North York Central and Toronto Reference Library)

French Canadian genealogy resource includes census information for Quebec in 1881 and for both Quebec and Ontario in 1901.  

 Additional Library Collections

Ontario Genealogical Society Deposit Collection  at the North York Central Library has an excellent collection of materials on British, American and Canadian censuses.

 

Canadiana Department, North York Central  416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577

 

Western Canada - Genealogy

Getting Started

The historical development of the Western provinces greatly determines the location and availability of genealogical records.  The Canadiana Department at the North York Central Library has a variety of resources including early historical maps, census returns,  directories and more.  Also available are deposit collections from the Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants, and Jewish Genealogical Society.The Humanities & Social Sciences Department at Toronto Reference Library has extensive records for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Searching the Library Website

Suggested Subjects and Keywords

• census [place] [year] e.g. census Alberta 1891
• [place name] genealogy e.g. Calgary genealogy
• registers [province or district] e.g. registers British Columbia
• prairie provinces land   or Northwest, Canadian emigration and immigration
• western canada genealogy

Suggested Titles

General

• Federal voters lists in Western Canada, 1935-1979: a finding aid
• Peel's Bibliography of the Canadian Prairies to 1953
• Researching the Prairies
• Western Canadian directories on microfiche and microfilm: a finding aid
• Western Canadians 1600-1900: an alphabetized directory of the people, places and vital dates

Alberta

• Alberta, formerly the Northwest Territories: index to registration of births, marriages and deaths, 1870-1905
• Genealogical resources in the Edmonton area: a helpful guide
• Tracing your ancestors in Alberta: a guide to sources of genealogical interest in Alberta's archives and research centres

British Columbia

• British Columbia 1871: a list of residents based on the work of Edward Mallandaine [primarily Vancouver Island]
• Genealogical resources for British Columbians
• Pioneer register: pioneers of British Columbia, pre 1900

Manitoba

• Finding your ancestors in Manitoba
• Biographical resources at the Hudson's Bay Company archives
• Manitoba marriages (also on microfilm) [1834-1979 St. Boniface region]

Saskatchewan

• Finding your ancestors in Saskatchewan
• Exploring family history in Saskatchewan
• Tracing your Saskatchewan ancestors

Using Online Resources

Recommended Websites

• Western Canada - Genealogy   (then  narrow by province, if required)

Recommended Databases

(Please note: the databases below all require a Toronto Public Library card to login)

• Early Canadiana Online (partially available free online)
• Globe and Mail - Canada's Heritage from 1844
• Toronto Star - Pages of the Past

In Library Resources

Databases

• Ancestry Library Edition (access from any Toronto Public Library computer)

Periodicals

• Alberta history (also available online with TPL Library card)
• The British Columbia genealogist
• Bulletin (Saskatchewan Genealogical Society)
• Chinook: the journal of the Alberta Family Histories Society
• East European genealogist  (Manitoba Genealogical Society)
• Generations: the journal of the Manitoba Genealogical Society
• Obituary notices index...Winnipeg Newspapers 1975-1993
• Relatively speaking: a publication of the Alberta Genealogical Society

Microforms

• Winnipeg Free Press 1874 - (selected articles available online from 1982 with TPL library card)
• British Columbia Directories 1900-1954
• Western Canada: Directories 1880 - 1953

For further assistance contact:

Canadiana Department, North York Central Library 416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577

Atlantic Canada - Genealogy

Getting Started

The historical development of each Maritime province greatly determines the genealogical records available to trace family histories.  For example, civil registration was not required until the late 19th century.  The Canadiana Department at the North York Central Library has some early vital statistics, family histories, census records and more. Also available are deposit collections from the Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants, and the Jewish Genealogical Society. The Humanities & Social Sciences Department at Toronto Reference Library has extensive records for Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Searching the Library Website

Suggested Subjects and Keywords

• [name of province] genealogy e.g. Prince Edward Island genealogy
• census [place] [year] e.g. census Colchester 1891
• registers [name of province] e.g. registers Newfoundland
• cemeteries [name of province] e.g. cemeteries Nova Scotia
• maritime provinces genealogy

Suggested Titles

General  

• Atlantic Canadians 1600 -1900 
• In search of your Canadian roots: tracing your family tree in Canada
• Genealogist's handbook for Atlantic Canada research
• Erin's sons: Irish arrivals in Atlantic Canada 1761-1853

New Brunswick

• Early marriage records of New Brunswick: Saint John City and County from the British conquest to 1839
• Finding your ancestors in New Brunswick
• Starting a family history project in New Brunswick Canada
• Vital Statistics from New Brunswick newspapers

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Births, deaths, marriages in Newfoundland newspapers [1825-1888]
• Cemetery inscriptions from the Labrador
• Family names of the island of Newfoundland
• Researching your family's history in Newfoundland and Labrador [pamphlet]
• Researching your family history in Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia

• Deaths, burials and probate from Nova Scotians, 1800-1850, from primary sources
• Genealogical research in Nova Scotia, 4th ed.
• Nova Scotia vital statistics from newspapers (multi-volume set)

Prince Edward Island

• Checklist and historical directory of Prince Edward Island newspapers, 1787-1986
• Early Prince Edward Island probate records, 1786-1850
• Family history in Prince Edward Island: a genealogical research guide

Using Online Resources

Recommended Websites

• Atlantic Canada - Genealogy

Recommended Databases

• Globe and Mail - Canada's Heritage from 1844 (Toronto Public Library card login required)
• Toronto Star - Pages of the Past (Toronto Public Library card login required)

In Library Resources

Database

• Ancestry Library Edition (access from any Toronto Public Library computer)
  

Periodicals

• Generations (New Brunswick Genealogical Society)
• Newfoundland ancestor ( Newfoundland & Labrador Genealogical Society)
• Newsletter (P.E.I. Genealogical Society)
• Nova Scotia genealogist (Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia)
• Them days (Labrador Heritage Society)

Microforms

• Census returns 1666-1891 and 1901 supplement (see Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm 1666-1901)
• Newfoundland census 1921, 1935, 1945 (see finding aid)
• Directories (see Atlantic Directories to 1900 on microfiche and Checklist of Canadian directories 1790-1950)

Maps

• Historical Atlas of the Maritime Provinces 1878
• Atlas of the Province of Prince Edward Island, Canada (1928)
• Atlas of York County, New Brunswick
• Illustrated historical atlas of Pictou County, Nova Scotia (1879)
• Illustrated historical atlas of Prince Edward Island  (1880)

For further assistance contact:

Canadiana Department, North York Central Library 416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577

Guide to Passenger Lists & Immigration Records

Getting Started

Passenger lists were created for most ships arriving at Canadian ports. These lists contain useful information such as a person's age, country of birth, last place of residence and occupation.

However, there were no comprehensive nominal lists until after 1865.

A few pre-1865 passenger lists that exists are available at Library and Archives Canada.

To obtain records for passenger lists after 1935, please follow the instructions on the Library and Archives Canada website.

Searching the Library Website

Suggested Keywords

• [province] immigrants
• [ship's name]
• shipping directories

Suggested Titles

Shipping Information

• Lloyd's register of shipping, 1760-1960
• A list of trading vessels in the Maritime fur trade, 1785-1825
→More on shipping registers

Immigrant arrivals in Canada  

Passenger Lists

• Doukhobor ship passengers lists,1898-1928
• Nova Scotia immigrants to 1867
• Passengers to New Brunswick: the custom house records, 1833,3437 & 38
→ More passenger lists

Indexes

• Index of passengers who emigrated to Canada between 1817 & 1849
• Upper Canada naturalization registers, 1828-1850
• Passenger and immigration lists index [multi-volume index to American and Canadian lists with supplements. Also known as Filby's].
→ More indexes

Immigrant arrivals in United States

Passenger Lists

• Emigration from the United Kingdom to America: lists of passengers arriving at U.S. ports
• Italians to America: lists of passengers arriving at U.S. ports
• Migration from the Russian Empire: lists of passengers arriving at the Port of New York
• Passenger arrivals at the Port of Baltimore, 1820-1834
→More passenger lists

Indexes

• An alphabetical index to Ulster emigration to Philadelphia, 1803-1850
• Wuerttemberg emigration index
→ More indexes

Departures from England

• American migrations, 1765-1799.
• Emigrants from England, 1773-1776
• An index of English immigrants based on obituaries and death notices in Prince Edward Island newspapers 1835-1910
• A list of emigrants from England to America, 1682-1692
• Omitted chapters from Hotten's original lists of persons of quality and others who went from Great Britain to the American plantations, 1600-1700
• Original lists of emigrants in bondage from London to the American Colonies, 1719-1744
• The original lists of persons of quality ... who went from Great Britain to the American plantations 1600-1700
→More passenger lists

Departures from Ireland

• An alphabetical index to Ulster emigration to Philadelphia, 1803-1850
• A chronicle of Irish emigration to Saint John, New Brunswick, 1847
• The convicts and exiles transported from Ireland, 1791-1820
• Irish emigrants in North America
• Irish emigration lists, 1833-1839: lists of emigrants extracted from the Ordnance Survey memoirs for Counties Londonderry and Antrim
• Irish passenger lists, 1803-1806: lists of passengers sailing from Ireland to America extracted from the Hardwicke Papers
• Irish passenger lists, 1847-1871 : lists of passengers sailing from Londonderry to America on ships of the J. & J. Cooke Line and the McCorkell Line
→More passenger lists

Departures from Scotland

• Fife convict transportees, 1752-1867
• The Lanark Society settlers : ships' lists of the Glasgow Emigration Society, 1821
• Later Scots-Irish links 1725-1825
• The original Scots colonists of early America. Supplement, 1607-1707
• Scottish transatlantic merchants, 1611-1785
• Scots in the USA and Canada, 1825-1875
• Scots-Irish links, 1575-1725
→More on emigration and immigration

Periodicals

• Periodicals Source Index (PERSI) (available in Toronto Reference and North York Central only)
• Genealogical Periodical Annual Index

Home Children

• Fegan's homes newsletters. vol. 10, The red lamp 1913-1920
• Fegan index of home children
• Golden bridge: young immigrants to Canada, 1833-1939
→More titles on the home children

Using Online Resources

Recommended Websites

• Immigration Records and Ships' Passenger Lists
• Home Children (Canadian Immigrants)

Recommended Databases: Passenger Lists by Date

Ancestry Library Edition (available in any Toronto Public Library branch)

• 1865-1935 Ships' Passenger Lists (also available free on Library Archives Canada)
• 1908-1935 Border Entry Records
• 1919-1924 Immigration Form 30 – Border Entries
• 1919-1924 Immigration Form 30A – Ocean Entries

Library and Archives Canada

• Pre-1865 (incomplete) Immigrants to Canada
• 1828-1850 Upper Canada/Canada West Naturalization Records
• 1832-1937 Immigrants at Grosse Ile
• 1865-1900 Quebec City Passenger Lists Index
• 1889-1949 General Registers of Chinese Immigration
• 1898-1922 Li-Ra-Ma Russian Consular Records [index] (Passport-Identity  Papers)
• 1925-1935 Immigration Records (Nominal Index) 
• Home Children 1869-1930 (partially complete)

Ontario Archives

• 1831-1892 Toronto Emigration Office Registers / Hawke Papers (from 1865)

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick

• 1816-1838 New Brunswick Ports
• 1845-1852 Irish Famine Migration to New Brunswick

In Library Resources

The Canadiana Department at North York Central Library has an extensive collection of microfilmed passenger lists to official Canadian ports. Some records are available for eastern US ports including New York.

If your ancestor was a juvenile or came over with a sponsoring agent like Dr. Barnardo, check the finding aid Home Children and Juvenile Immigration. Records include:

• Central Registry Files Index – Soundex Index  of Children's Names, 1892-1932
• Central Registry Files – Listed by Organization, 1873-1950
• Juvenile Inspection Lists – Chronological 1874-1939
• Inspection Reports – Alphabetical List 1913-1932

If your ancestor came over in early 20^th century as a domestic or farm labourer, consult the binder "Supplementary  Immigration and Passenger List Information" for details on the microfilm reels available. This same binder includes information on the microfilm reels on Deportation from Canada  1893 – 1977.

 

Canadiana Department, North York Central  416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577