Canada Census 1851

Each result in this collection will provide you with a transcript and image of the original census form. From the transcripts, you may learn the following details:

• First name(s)
• Last name
• Sex
• Age
• Birth year
• Birth place
• Religion
• Relationship to head of household
• Subdistrict
• District
• Province
• Image source – external link to image

Images, hosted at the Library and Archives Canada, will often be able to provide additional details.

See the following sections to learn more about the 1861 census and deciphering the images.

Following the Act of Union in 1841, the Province of Canada was formed. It consisted of Canada West (Ontario) and Canada East (Quebec). The 1851 census also collected population details for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. While the census for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was collected in 1851, the census for Canada West and Canada East did not get underway until 12 January 1852.

From this census, information was gathered on 2,312,919 individuals, broken down by place as follows:

• Canada East – 890,261
• Canada West – 952,004
• New Brunswick – 193,800
• Nova Scotia – 276,854

Unfortunately, the original paper records of this census were destroyed in 1955 following the microfilming done by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. The process and quality of the microfilming were not consistent and has resulted in some images being of poor quality.

The following sections provide breakdowns of column headings by province found on the images from the 1851 census. Please keep in mind that terms used to describe ethnic origin and mental capacity are reflective of the time period and are not considered reflective of current usage.

To navigate the images to see all the columns pertaining to a particular individual, you will need to click on the image link found in the transcript (Source image) and then manipulate the URL there. For example, if your ancestor were located on this page, http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e094/e002346999.jpg, you would edit the number in the URL so that instead of ending in -6999 it ended in -7000, allowing you to see the next page.

• Column 1 – Names
• Column 2 – Profession, trade, or occupation
• Column 3 – Place of birth
• Column 4 – Religion
• Column 5 – Residence if out of limits
• Column 6 – Age at next birthday
• Column 7 – Sex, male
• Column 8 – Sex, female
• Column 9 – Married or single
• Column 10 – Widowers or widows
• Column 11 – Colored persons
• Column 12 – Residents, members of family (male)
• Column 13 – Residents, members of family (females)
• Column 14 – Residents, not members of family (male)
• Column 15 – Residents, not members of family (female)
• Column 16 – Members of family absent (male)
• Column 17 – Members of family absent (female)
• Column 18 – Deaf and dumb
• Column 19 – Blind
• Column 20 – Lunatics
• Column 21 – Attending school (male)
• Column 22 – Attending school (female)
• Column 23 – Births in 1851 (male)
• Column 24 – Births in 1851 (female)
• Column 25 – Deaths in 1851 (male)
• Column 26 – Deaths in 1851 (female)
• Column 27 – Deaths in 1851, age and cause of death
• Column 28 – Houses (brink, stone, frame, log, etc.)
• Column 29 – Houses, number of stories
• Column 30 – Houses, number of families occupying
• Column 31 – Houses vacant
• Column 32 – Houses being built
• Column 33 – Horses
• Column 34 – Cows
• Column 35 – Sheep
• Column 36 – Pigs
• Column 37 – Carriages for pleasure
• Column 38 – Carriages for hire
• Column 39 – Quantity of land attached to tenement
• Column 40 – Shop, stores, inns, taverns, schools, etc.
• Column 41 – Manufactures of all kinds – mills, ship yards, etc., their produce, etc., and whether worked by steam or water
• Column 42 – Number of hands employed
• Column 43 – Remarks

• Column 1 – Names
• Column 2 – Profession, trade, or occupation
• Column 3 – Place of birth
• Column 4 – Religion
• Column 5 – Residence if out of limits
• Column 6 – Age on next birthday
• Column 7 – Sex (male)
• Column 8 – Sex (female)
• Column 9 – Married or single
• Column 10 – Colored persons
• Column 11 – Indians, if any
• Column 12 – Residents, members of family (male)
• Column 13 – Residents, members of family (female)
• Column 14 – Residents, not members of the family (male)
• Column 15 – Residents, not members of the family (female)
• Column 16 – Members of family absent (male)
• Column 17 – Members of family absent (female)
• Column 18 – Deaf or dumb (male)
• Column 19 – Deaf or dumb (female)
• Column 20 – Blind (male)
• Column 21 – Blind (female)
• Column 22 – Lunatics (male)
• Column 23 – Lunatics (female)
• Column 24 – Attending school (male)
• Column 25 – Attending school (female)
• Column 26 – Births in 1851 (male)
• Column 27 – Births in 1851 (female)
• Column 28 – Deaths in 1851 (male)
• Column 29 – Deaths in 1851 (female)
• Column 30 – Deaths in 1851, age and cause of death
• Column 31 – Houses (brick, stone, frame, log, shanty, or other kind of residence)
• Column 32 – Houses, number of stories
• Column 33 – Houses, number of families living in the house
• Column 34 – Houses, vacant
• Column 35 – Houses, building
• Column 36 – Shops, stores, inns, taverns, etc.
• Column 37 – Public buildings
• Column 38 – Places of worship
• Column 39 – Information as to mills, factories, etc., their cost, power, produce, etc.
• Column 40 – Number of persons usually employed therein
• Column 41 – General remarks by the enumerator

The headings on these forms are printed in French; the English translation has been provided below.

• Column 1 – Names of persons in the house
• Column 2 – Profession, status, or occupation
• Column 3 – Place of birth
• Column 4 – Religion
• Column 5 – Residence if outside of limits
• Column 6 – Age at next birthday
• Column 7 – Sex (male)
• Column 8 – Sex (female)
• Column 9 – Married or single
• Column 10 – Colored persons
• Column 11 – Indians, if any
• Column 12 – Residents, members of family (male)
• Column 13 – Residents, members of family (female)
• Column 14 – Residents, not members of the family (male)
• Column 15 – Residents, not members of the family (female)
• Column 16 – Members of family absent (male)
• Column 17 – Members of family absent (female)
• Column 18 – Deaf or dumb (male)
• Column 19 – Deaf or dumb (female)
• Column 20 – Blind (male)
• Column 21 – Blind (female)
• Column 22 – Lunatics (male)
• Column 23 – Lunatics (female)
• Column 24 – Attending school (male)
• Column 25 – Attending school (female)
• Column 26 – Births in 1851 (male)
• Column 27 – Births in 1851 (female)
• Column 28 – Deaths in 1851 (male)
• Column 29 – Deaths in 1851 (female)
• Column 30 – Deaths in 1851, age and cause of death
• Column 31 – Houses (brick, stone, frame, log, or other types of constructions)
• Column 32 – Houses, number of stories
• Column 33 – Number of families in the house
• Column 34 – Houses, vacant
• Column 35 – Houses, under construction
• Column 36 – Shops, stores, inns, taverns, etc.
• Column 37 – Public buildings
• Column 38 – Place of worship
• Column 39 – Information as to mills, factories, etc., investment, power, production, etc.
• Column 40 – Number of persons generally employed therein
• Column 41 – General remarks of the enumerator

The headings on these forms are printed in French; the English translation has been provided below.

• Column 1 – Names of persons in the house
• Column 2 – Profession, status, or occupation
• Column 3 – Place of birth
• Column 4 – Religion
• Column 5 – Residence if outside of limits
• Column 6 – Age at next birthday
• Column 7 – Sex (male)
• Column 8 – Sex (female)
• Column 9 – Married or single
• Column 10 – Widowers or widows
• Column 11 – Colored persons
• Column 12 – Residents, members of family (male)
• Column 13 – Residents, members of family (female)
• Column 14 – Residents, not members of the family (male)
• Column 15 – Residents, not members of the family (female)
• Column 16 – Members of family absent (male)
• Column 17 – Members of family absent (female)
• Column 18 – Deaf and dumb
• Column 19 – Blind
• Column 20 – Lunatics
• Column 21 – Attending school (male)
• Column 22 – Attending school (female)
• Column 23 – Births in 1851 (male)
• Column 24 – Births in 1851 (female)
• Column 25 – Deaths in 1851 (male)
• Column 26 – Deaths in 1851 (female)
• Column 27 – Deaths in 1851, age and cause of death
• Column 28 – Houses (brick, stone, frame, log, etc.)
• Column 29 – Houses, number of stories
• Column 30 – Number of families in the house
• Column 31 – Houses, vacant
• Column 32 – Houses, under construction
• Column 33 – Horses
• Column 34 – Cows
• Column 35 – Sheep
• Column 36 – Pigs
• Column 37 – Carriages for pleasure
• Column 38 – Carriages for hire
• Column 39 – Quantity of land attached to tenement
• Column 40 – Shops, stores, inns, taverns, schools, etc.
• Column 41 – Manufactures of all kinds (mills, construction sites, etc., their produce, etc. and whether worked by steam or water)
• Column 42 – Number of person employed
• Column 43 – Remarks

The headings on these forms are printed in French; the English translation has been provided below.

• Column 1 – Names of persons in the house
• Column 2 – Profession, status, or occupation
• Column 3 – Place of birth
• Column 4 – Religion
• Column 5 – Residence if outside of limits
• Column 6 – Age at next birthday
• Column 7 – Sex (male)
• Column 8 – Sex (female)
• Column 9 – Married or single
• Column 10 – Colored persons
• Column 11 – Indians, if any
• Column 12 – Residents, members of family (male)
• Column 13 – Residents, members of family (female)
• Column 14 – Residents, not members of the family (male)
• Column 15 – Residents, not members of the family (female)
• Column 16 – Members of family absent (male)
• Column 17 – Members of family absent (female)
• Column 18 – Deaf and dumb (male)
• Column 19 – Deaf and dumb (female)
• Column 20 – Blind (male)
• Column 21 – Blind (female)
• Column 22 – Lunatics (male)
• Column 23 – Lunatics (female)
• Column 24 – Students (male)
• Column 25 – Students (female)
• Column 26 – Births in 1851 (male)
• Column 27 – Births in 1851 (female)
• Column 28 – Deaths in 1851 (male)
• Column 29 – Deaths in 1851 (female)
• Column 30 – Deaths in 1851, age and cause of death
• Column 31 – Houses (brick, stone, frame, log, or other types of construction)
• Column 32 – Houses, number of stories
• Column 33 – Number of families in the house
• Column 34 – Houses, vacant
• Column 35 – Houses, under construction
• Column 36 – Shops, stores, inns, taverns, etc.
• Column 37 – Public buildings
• Column 38 – Places of worship
• Column 39 – Information as to mills, factories, etc., investment, power, production, etc.
• Column 40 – Number of person usually employed therein
• Column 41 – General remarks of the enumerator

• Column 1 – Dwelling
• Column 2 – Name
• Column 3 – Sex
• Column 4 – Relationship
• Column 5 – Age
• Column 6 – Race
• Column 7 – Rank or occupation
• Column 8 – Date of entering the colony
• Column 9 – Sick or infirm
• Column 10 – Remarks

• Column 1 – Inhabited houses
• Column 2 – By how many families inhabited
• Column 3 – Houses now building
• Column 4 – Uninhabited houses
• Column 5 – Stores, barns, and outhouses
• Column 6 – Number of births in preceding year
• Column 7 – Number of deaths in preceding year
• Column 8 – Number of children attending grammar schools
• Column 9 – Number of children attending parish schools
• Column 10 – Estimated quantity of cleared land
• Column 11 – Tons of hay cut
• Column 12 – Bushels of wheat raised
• Column13 – Bushels of barley raised
• Column 14 – Bushels of oats raised
• Column 15 – Bushels of buckwheat raised
• Column 16 – Bushels of Indian corn raised
• Column 17 – Bushels of peas and beans raised
• Column 18 – Bushels of turnips raised
• Column 19 – Bushels of potatoes raised
• Column 20 – Bushels of other roots raised
• Column 21 – Number of neat cattle
• Column 22 – Number of cows, how many milked
• Column 23 – Quantity of butter
• Column 24 – Number of horses
• Column 25 – Number of sheep
• Column 26 – Number of swine
• Column 27 – Number of churches and places of worship
• Column 28 – Number of schools
• Column 29 – Number of saw mills, and hands employed
• Column 30 – Number of grist mills, and hands employed
• Column 31 – Number of tanneries, and hands employed
• Column 32 – Number of foundries, and hands employed
• Column 33 – Number of weaving and carding establishments and hands employed
• Column 34 – Number of hand looms
• Column 35 – Number of yards of woolen cloth manufactured
• Column 36 – Number of factories, other than the above, and hands employed
• Column 37 – Value of leather manufactured
• Column 38 – Value of candles manufactured
• Column 39 – Value of candles manufactured
• Column 40 – Value of wooden ware manufactured, other than cabinet makers
• Column 41 – Value of soap manufactured
• Column 42 – Value of chairs and cabinet ware manufactured
• Column 43 – Value of fish caught, and quantities
• Column 44 – Value of hats manufactured
• Column 45 – Value of iron castings manufactured
• Column 46 – Quantity of coal raised
• Column 47 – Quantity of iron smelted
• Column 48 – Number of breweries
• Column 49 – Number of gallons of malt liquor manufactured
• Column 50 – Casks of lime burnt
• Column 51 – Number of grindstones
• Column 52 – Tons gypsum quarried
• Column 53 – Quantity of maple sugar manufactured

• Column 1 – Heads of families

Buildings

• Column 2 – Number of inhabited houses
• Column 3 – By how many families inhabited
• Column 4 – Number of houses now building
• Column 5 – Number of uninhabited houses
• Column 6 – Number of stores, barns, and outhouses

Inhabitants of various ages

• Column 7 – Number of males under 10 years of age
• Column 8 – Number of females under 10 years of age
• Column 9 – Number of males between 10 and 20 years of age
• Column 10 – Number of females between 10 and 20 years of age
• Column 11 – Number of males between 20 and 30 years of age
• Column 12 – Number of females between 20 and 30 years of age
• Column 13 – Number of males between 30 and 40 years of age
• Column 14 – Number of females between 30 and 40 years of age
• Column 15 – Number of males between 40 and 50 years of age
• Column 16 – Number of females between 40 and 50 years of age
• Column 17 – Number of males above 50 years of age
• Column 18 – Number of females above 50 years of age
• Column 19 – Number of married persons of both sexes
• Column 20 – Number of widowers
• Column 21 – Number of widows
• Column 22 – Number of rate payers
• Column 23 – Number of paupers

Deaf and dumb

• Column 24 – Males
• Column 25 – Females

Blind

• Column 26 – Males
• Column 27 – Females

Lunatics

• Column 28 – Males
• Column 29 – Females

Idiots

• Column 30 – Males
• Column 31 – Females

Indians

• Column 32 – Males, including children
• Column 33 – Females, including children

Colored persons

• Column 34 – Males, including children
• Column 35 – Females, including children

Assessments

• Column 36 – Amount of assessment for county rates
• Column 37 – Amount of assessment for poor rates
• Column 38 – Highest rate for poor and county
• Column 39 – Lowest rate for poor and county

Value of property

• Column 40 – Assessed value of real estate
• Column 41 – Probable value of real estate
• Column 42 – Assessed value of personal estate

Births, deaths, and marriages

• Column 43 – Number of births in the preceding year
• Column 44 – Number of deaths in the preceding year
• Column 45 – Number of marriages in the preceding year

Numbers engaged in various occupations

• Column 46 – Number of clergymen or ministers
• Column 47 – Number of doctors
• Column 48 – Number of farmers
• Column 49 – Number of mechanics
• Column 50 – Number of merchants and traders
• Column 51 – Number of persons engaged in the fisheries
• Column 52 – Number of seamen registered
• Column 53 – Number of persons employed at sea
• Column 54 – Number of persons engaged in lumbering

Places of worship

• Column 55 – Number of churches and places of worship
• Column 56 – Denomination

Improved land

• Column 57 – Number of acres of dyke land
• Column 58 – Average value
• Column 59 – Number of acres of other than improved land

Schools and pupils

• Column 60 – Number of schools in district
• Column 61 – Number of children attending schools

Numbers of various religious denominations

• Column 62 – Church of England
• Column 63 – Catholics
• Column 64 – Kirk of Scotland
• Column 65 – Free Church
• Column 66 – Presbyterian Church of N.S.
• Column 67 – Baptists
• Column 68 – Methodists
• Column 69 – Congregationalists
• Column 70 – Universalists
• Column 71 – Lutherans
• Column 72 – Sandemanians
• Column 73 – Quakers
• Column 74 – Other denominations

Agricultural

• Column 75 – Number of tons of hay cut
• Column 76 – Number of bushels of wheat raised
• Column 77 – Number of bushels of barley raised
• Column 78 – Number of bushels of rye raised
• Column 79 – Number of bushels of oats raised
• Column 80 – Number of bushels of buckwheat raised
• Column 81 – Number of bushels of Indian corn raised
• Column 82 – Number of bushels of peas and beans raised
• Column 83 – Quantity of millet and forage

Produce

• Column 84 – Number of bushels of potatoes raised
• Column 85 – Number of bushels of turnips raised
• Column 86 – Number of bushels of other root crops raised

Agricultural stock

• Column 87 – Number of neat cattle
• Column 88 – Number of milk cows
• Column 89 – Number of horses
• Column 90 – Number of sheep
• Column 91 – Number of swine

Fisheries

• Column 92 – Number of vessels engaged in the fisheries
• Column 93 – Number of men on board
• Column 94 – Amount of tonnage engaged in the fisheries
• Column 95 – Number of boats engaged in the fisheries
• Column 96 – Number of men on board
• Column 97 – Number of nets and seines
• Column 98 – Quantity of dry fished cured
• Column 99 – Quantity of salmon caught and cured
• Column 100 – Quantity of shad caught and cured
• Column 101 – Quantity of smoked herrings caught and cured
• Column 102 – Quantity of mackerel caught and cured
• Column 103 – Quantity of herrings caught and cured
• Column 104 – Quantities of alewives caught and cured
• Column 105 – Value
• Column 106 – Quantity of fish oil
• Column 107 – Value

Mills and factories

• Column 108 – Number of saw mills
• Column 109 – Value
• Column 110 – Number of hands employed
• Column 111 – Number of grist mills
• Column 112 – Value
• Column 113 – Number of hands employed
• Column 114 – Number of tanneries
• Column 115 – Value
• Column 116 – Number of hands employed
• Column 117 – Number of foundries
• Column 118 – Value
• Column 119 – Number of hands employed
• Column 120 – Number of weaving and caring establishments
• Column 121 – Value
• Column 122 – Number of hands employed
• Column 123 – Number of breweries and distilleries
• Column 124 – Value
• Column 125 – Number of hands employed
• Column 126 – Number of hand looms
• Column 127 – Value
• Column 128 – Number of other factories
• Column 129 – Value
• Column 130 – Number of hands employed
• Column 131 – Number of steam mills or factories

Articles manufactured

• Column 132 – Number of yards of fulled cloth manufactured last year
• Column 133 – Number of yards of cloth not fulled
• Column 134 – Number of yards of flannel
• Column 135 – Value of boots and shoes manufactured
• Column 136 – Value of leather manufactured
• Column 137 – Value of candles manufactured
• Column 138 – Value of soap manufactured
• Column 139 – Value of agricultural implements manufactured
• Column 140 – Value of chairs and cabinet ware manufactured
• Column 141 – Value of carriages manufactured
• Column 142 – Value of other wooden ware manufactured
• Column 143 – Value of iron castings manufactured
• Column 144 – Quantity of coal raised
• Column 145 – Quantity of iron smelted
• Column 146 – Value

Within in the census, you may come across some abbreviations. Here are some common ones found within:

Provinces

• C.E. – Canada East
• C.W. – Canada West
• L.C. – Lower Canada
• U.C. – Upper Canada

Religion

• B.C. – Bible Christian
• C. (of) E. – Church of England
• C. (of) S. – Church of Scotland
• E.M.C. – Episcopal Methodist Church
• F.C. – Free Church, Presbyterian
• M.E.C. – Methodist Episcopal Church
• P.C.L.P. – Presbyterian-Canada and Lower Provinces
• P.F.C. – Presbyterian Free Church
• R.C. – Roman Catholic
• R.P. – Reformed Presbyterian
• U.P. – United Presbyterian
• W.M. – Wesleyan Methodist

Weights and measures

• A – Acres
• B wheat – Buckwheat
• Bsh – Bushels
• Galls – Gallons
• Cwts / quint – Hundredweight
• Lbs – Pounds
• Yds – Yards

• If your searches are returning too many results, try including another name in your search by using the Other household member search field. If you know another person that would have been living with your relative at the time of the census, searching by your ancestor’s name with this additional household member’s name will help to greatly narrow your search results.

• For images that are difficult to decipher, refer to the breakdown of column headers on the search screen to assist you.

• If the image continues to prove difficult to read, try downloading the image and opening it an image editing program on your computer. Increase the contrast and experiment with various settings to improve legibility.

• To navigate the images to see all the columns pertaining to a particular individual, you will need to click on the image link found in the transcript (Source image) and then manipulate the URL there. For example, if your ancestor were located on this page, http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e094/e002346999.jpg, you would edit the number so that instead of ending in -6999 it ended in -7000, allowing you to see the next page.