Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Lambton County Museums Logo

Contact Us
  • Lambton Heritage Museum
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibits
    • Learn
    • Collections and Research
    • News
    • Get Involved
    • About Us
  • Oil Museum of Canada
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibits
    • Collections and Research
    • Learn
    • Get Involved
    • News
    • About Us
  • Lambton County Archives
    • Visit the Archives
    • Events
    • Exhibits
    • Learn
    • Collections and Research
    • Get Involved
    • Blog
    • News
    • About Us
  • Donate

lady looking at a museum display of old artifacts

Canadian Census Records

More
HomeLambton County ArchivesBlogCanadian Census Records
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

Census records are among the most useful records available to genealogists and people who want to explore the past. These records were used for statistical purposes and identify the extent of a family, occupation, age, marital status, place of birth, religion, and more. By law, census records can only be made public 92 years after the census completion. As of June 1st, 2023 the most recent census available is the 1931 Canadian Census.  

The earliest census records available for Canada were taken in 1666, 1667, and 1681 under the instructions of Intendant Jean Talon and lists the early residents of New France. This census revealed that there were twice as many men as women therefore King Louis XIV sent young French Women, known as Filles du roi, to settle in New France to increase the population. The Filles du roi are believed to be behind the creation of one of the most quintessential Canadian dishes, the Butter Tart.   

From 1851 to 1901, a census occurred every ten years to assist in determining parliamentary representation based on population. But the census turned out to be so much more since it provides a history of Canadian families and a  snapshot of societal shifts at a specific point in time. Unfortunately, some of the early censuses only partially survived, including the 1861 Lambton County census where much of the townships census information did not survive the historical record.  

In 1905, the Census and Statistics Act shared that a general census of Canada was to occur in 1911 and every ten years after, while a census of population and agriculture was to be taken in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta in 1906 and every ten years after.  

Searching via Library and Archives Canada

Most census records can be located through Library and Archives Canada. When searching a database, keep in mind that spelling variations of names are common.  Also, it is sometimes difficult for indexers to interpret the handwriting of the census enumerators, especially on pages with poor legibility, so databases do contain many errors and omissions.  If you cannot find a name in a database, try searching the census pages for the place where your ancestor resided.  

You can also view Census records on: 

Ancestry

Ancestry Library: (1825, 1842 Canada East to 1921)

FamilySearch: (Canada 1825 to 1926, Manitoba 1831 to 1870, and Newfoundland 1921, 1935, 1945) 

Census Databases (1825 to 1931)

Census Databases (1825 to 1931)
Database, Title and YearProvinces and Territories IncludedType of Census
Census of 1825, Lower Canada  Quebec  Nominal 
Census of 1831, Lower Canada Quebec  Nominal 
Census of 1842, Canada West  Ontario  Nominal 
Census of 1842, Canada East Quebec  Nominal
Census of 1851 

Nova Scotia 

New Brunswick,

Ontario (Canada West),

Quebec (Canada East)

Heads of Households

Nominal

Census of 1861  Nova Scotia,

Prince Edward Island, 

New Brunswick,

Ontario (Canada West),

Quebec (Canada East)

Heads of Households

Nominal

Census of 1870, Manitoba   Manitoba Nominal
Census of Canada, 1871 

New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia,

Ontario, Quebec 

Nominal

Census of Canada, 1871:

Ontario heads of household 

Ontario 

Why are there

two databases

for 1871?

Heads of Households
Census of Canada, 1881 

Alberta, British Columbia,

Manitoba, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia, Ontario,

Prince Edward Island,

Quebec,

Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan

Nominal
Census of Canada, 1891  Alberta, British Columbia,

Manitoba, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia, Ontario,

Prince Edward Island,

Quebec,

Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan,

Yukon Territory

Nominal
Census of Canada, 1901  Alberta, British Columbia,

Manitoba, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia, Ontario,

Prince Edward Island,

Quebec,

Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan,

Yukon Territory

Nominal
Census of the Northwest Provinces, 1906  Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan  Nominal
Census of Canada, 1911  Alberta, British Columbia,

Manitoba, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia, Ontario,

Prince Edward Island,

Quebec,

Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan,

Yukon Territory

Nominal
Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1916  Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan Nominal
Census of Canada, 1921  Alberta, British Columbia,

Manitoba, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia, Ontario,

Prince Edward Island,

Quebec,

Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan,

Yukon Territory

Nominal
Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1926  Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan Nominal
Census of Canada, 1931  Alberta, British Columbia,

Manitoba, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia, Ontario,

Prince Edward Island,

Quebec,

Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan,

Yukon Territory

Nominal

 Additional Information

First Nations Census Records

Record Group 10 (RG10) contains the records created by the former Department of Indian and Inuit Affairs including some census records for First Nations bands. Some are aggregate (statistical) only, some list the names of heads of household and some list all the names in each family. To see what records exist, including some that are viewable online, use Library and Archives Canada Collection Search. Enter the keywords RG10, census and the name of a place, band or agency. 

Lambton County Archives
    • Visit the Archives
      Toggle Section Visit the Archives Menu
      • What to Know Before You Go
      • Research and Copying Fees
      • Accessibility
      • Gift Shop
    • Events
      Toggle Section Events Menu
      • Events
    • Exhibits
      Toggle Section Exhibits Menu
      • Current Exhibits
      • Past Exhibits
      • Virtual Exhibits
        Toggle Section Virtual Exhibits Menu
        • Historypin
        • The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time
          Toggle Section The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time Menu
          • Chapter 1: Scratching the Surface of Warwick Township (Geology)
          • Chapter 2: From Mastodon to Arrowhead (Prehistory)
          • Chapter 3: From Forest to Field (Early Years)
          • Chapter 4: To Everything There is a Season (Agriculture)
          • Chapter 5: From Cradle to Grave (Churches and Cemeteries)
          • Chapter 6: From Slate to Laptop (Education)
          • Chapter 7: Settlements from the Past (Birnam, Kingscourt, Saunders' Corners, Wisbeach)
          • Chapter 8: “My Kona, Your Kona, Arkona” (Arkona)
          • Chapter 9: Forest Roots in Warwick (A Personal Tour)
          • Chapter 10: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained (Businesses)
          • Chapter 11:Watford, My Home Town (A Personal Tour)
          • Chapter 12:Responsible Government (Political Leadership)
          • Chapter 13: Sports in Pictures (Sports Activities)
          • Chapter 14: St. Clair Borderers (Military pre-World War I)
          • Chapter 15: My Home, My Palace (19th Century Domestic Architecture)
          • Chapter 16: Home Children (Little Immigrants)
          • Chapter 17: From Farm Field to Battlefield (World War I)
          • Chapter 18: Good Times in Bad Times (The Great Depression)
          • Chapter 19: Home Front to Battlefront (World War II)
          • Chapter 21: Tires and Wires (Transportation and Communication)
          • Chapter 22: Overcoming Adversities (Natural Disasters, Accidents, Fires, Murders and Diseases)
          • Chapter 23: Recollections and Reflections (Miscellaneous Memories)
          • Chapter 24: The Ties That Bind (Family Histories)
          • Chapter 25: Captured Moments: One Last Look (Photos)
        • History of Community Concert Bands in Lambton County
    • Learn
      Toggle Section Learn Menu
      • Interactive Lessons
      • Lunch and Learn
      • Virtual Books
    • Collections and Research
      Toggle Section Collections and Research Menu
      • Researcher Access
      • LCA Online Collection
      • Genealogy
      • Conservation
      • Researching Lambton
      • COVID- 19 (Coronavirus) Online Submissions
    • Get Involved
      Toggle Section Get Involved Menu
      • Donate
      • Membership
    • Blog
      Toggle Section Blog Menu
      • At the Archives
        Toggle Section At the Archives Menu
        • Collecting COVID-19 History at Lambton County Archives
        • Twas the Night Before Christmas
        • Who’s That Guy Again? Writing Safely on your Photographs
        • Rare World War One Photos and Diary Transcription Donated to Lambton County Archives
        • Lambton County Archives Capital Project - New shelving units
        • Archives Awareness Week 2014
        • Facility Name Change: Lambton Room to Lambton County Archives
        • Peek Into The Doors Open Lambton County Weekend
        • Doors Open Lambton County 2012
        • Constructing the St. Clair Tunnel
        • Ontario Genealogical Society's 50th Anniversary
        • A Foreign Affair: Upcoming Book Launch and Theatre Presentation at the Oil Museum of Canada
        • Ontario Vital Statistics: New Years Are Here!
        • The Lambton Room's New Blog: Exploring the Past
      • Exhibits
        Toggle Section Exhibits Menu
        • Sarnia: We Built This City
      • Historic Recipes
        Toggle Section Historic Recipes Menu
        • Pearl Betteridge’s Ukrainian Medivnyk (Honey Cake)
        • Mrs. Micheline Neif’s "Bouchées Princess”
        • Mrs. Ralph Smith's Butterscotch Cookie
        • Spicy Pumpkin Loaf
        • Isobel Sylvester's Magic Cookie Bars
        • Mary Koncovy’s Potato Pancakes (Pagachki)
        • The Lucan Family’s Chicken Stew
        • Mrs. A.C. Jamieson's Pickled Peaches
        • Butter Tart Pan Squares
        • Dutch Cabbage Rolls: Mary Schuurman
        • Never Fail Molasses Cookies
        • Wind Blown Cake
        • Oil City United Church - Mother's Chili Sauce
        • Oatmeal Bread
        • “Do You Know That…”
        • Mrs. J. Lang’s Crumb Cake!
        • Lemon Fluff Pie
        • Cinnamon Bread
        • Swedish Water Rolls
        • 1829 Ginger Pop Recipe Experiment
        • Lima Bean Chowder
        • Jersey Milk Fingers
        • Mrs. Basil Bourne's Date Pudding
        • Christine Jaques Date Squares
      • From the Vault
        Toggle Section From the Vault Menu
        • Arthur Brittain
        • Winners of Bonspiel
        • Sarnia Citizen’s Band
        • A Trip to the Royal Winter Fair by Marjorie Clemens
        • A Gem From Paris at the Lambton Heritage Museum
        • Sarnia Historical Film Footage on YouTube: 1941 Wartime Parade and 1950s Home Show
        • Local History Gem! The Sarnia Observer Negative Collection
        • The Story Behind Sarnia's Art Movement
        • Into the Belly of the Beast: Behind the Vault Doors
        • Where Did Our Collection Come From?
      • Lambton Stories
        Toggle Section Lambton Stories Menu
        • Sarnia Mechanics Institute
        • Snowmageddon
          Toggle Section Snowmageddon Menu
          • Bringing People In
          • Death in Kent
          • Destined to Run
          • Drive to the Airport
          • Emergency Response
          • Family Snow Event
          • Fearful Drive
          • Heading to School
          • Helping out in Wyoming
          • Pregnant and Stranded
          • Quiet and Cold
          • Short Stories
          • Snowmobile Rescuers
          • Stranded with Others
          • Warden Recollections
          • When Strangers Become Friends
          • Wyoming Fairgrounds
        • Lambton County Bee-keeping
        • Sarnia Vegetable Growers Association
        • Books on Wheels! History of the Lambton County Library Bookmobile
        • Interesting Lambton Businesses: The Newton Hat Shop
      • Portraits
        Toggle Section Portraits Menu
        • What is True History? The Shaw Gusher Question
        • The Young Canuckstorian Project
          Toggle Section The Young Canuckstorian Project Menu
          • Sadie Knowles
          • Dr. Marion Dougall
          • Elmer Kleinsmith
          • Deo Suzuki
          • Winnifred James
          • Edith Rice
          • Annie McLellan
          • James Merrison
          • Roy Caley
          • Jack Lewis
          • Tornado of 1953
          • Sheila Rose
          • Alf Corrick
          • Edward Causley
          • Leonard McMullin
          • Stewart Cowan
          • Charles Knight
          • Lambton Battalions
          • Lambton Remembers
        • An 1853 Letter from William P. Vidal
        • Trooper Donald McClure
        • Captain Eber Brock Ward
        • The Bury Family
          Toggle Section The Bury Family Menu
          • Captain Thomas Bury
          • John Edger Bury
          • Captain William H. Smith
          • Captain Henry Bury
          • Captain Martin Swain
        • Hope Millholland
        • Mrs. Hunter
        • Nicholas Plain
        • Peter Pennington
        • Richard Duncan
        • Noted English Officers along the St. Clair River
          Toggle Section Noted English Officers along the St. Clair River Menu
          • Captain William Elliott Wright R.N.
        • Captain Robert Dow Foote
        • Forest Resident Branches Out: The Brown Family Travel Documents
    • News
    • About Us
      Toggle Section About Us Menu
      • Acknowledgement of Ancestral Lands
      • Our Story
      • Contact Us

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

County of Lambton logo

About Us

Lambton County Museums is the home of Lambton Heritage Museum, the Oil Museum of Canada, and the Lambton County Archives.

Website

  • Lambton Heritage Museum
  • Oil Museum of Canada
  • Lambton County Archives

Resources

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Website Feedback

Discoveries that Matter Logo

Copyright © Lambton County Museum 2020

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.