Discover your ancestor in the 1861 Canadian census.
Learn about these records
What can these records tell me?
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
Birth year
Birth place
Marital status
Religion
Relationship to head of household
Subdistrict
District
Province
Images, hosted at the Library and Archives Canada, will often be able to provide additional details. Since census enumerators often used abbreviations, you may find the following useful.
Marital status
Married (M)
Single (S)
Widow (W)
Widower (Wr)
Religion
Bible Christian (B.C.)
Church of England (C. (of) E.)
Church of Scotland (C. (of) S.)
Episcopal Methodist Church (E.M.C.)
Free Church—Presbyterian (F.C.)
Methodist Episcopal Church (M.E.C.)
Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces (P.C.L.P.)
Presbyterian Free Church (P.F.C.)
Roman Catholic (R.C.)
Reformed Presbyterian (R.P.)
United Presbyterian (U.P.)
Wesleyan Methodist (W.M.)
Province
Canada East (C.E.)
Canada West (C.W.)
Lower Canada (L.C.)
Upper Canada (U.P.)
See the following sections to learn more about the 1861 census and deciphering the images.
Discover more about these records
Following the Act of Union in 1841, the Province of Canada was formed. It consisted of Canada West (Ontario) and Canada East (Quebec). The 1861 census also collected population details for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
The 1861 census began on different dates depending on location:
For Canada East and Canada West, 14 January 1861
For Nova Scotia, 30 March 1861
For New Brunswick, 15 August 1861
For Prince Edward Island, it is not known
From the five areas included, information was gathered from the following numbers of individuals:
Canada East – 1,110,664
Canada West – 1,396,091
New Brunswick – 193,800
Nova Scotia – 330,857
Prince Edward Island – 80,857
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 was 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 1861 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.
Canada West (Ontario) – Personal census
Column 1 – Names
Column 2 – Profession, trade, or occupation
Column 3 – Place of birth
Column 4 – Married during the year
Column 5 – Religion
Column 6 – Residence if out of limits
Column 7 – Age at next birthday
Column 8 – Sex, male
Column 9 – Sex, female
Column 10 – Married or single
Column 11 – Widowers
Column 12 – Widows
Column 13 – Colored persons, mulatto, or Indian
Column 14 – Residents, members of family (male)
Column 15 – Residents, members of family (females)
Column 16 – Residents, not members of family (male)
Column 17 – Residents, not members of family (female)
Column 18 – Members of family absent (male)
Column 19 – Members of family absent (female)
Column 20 – Deaf and dumb
Column 21 – Blind
Column 22 – Lunatics or idiots
Column 23 – Children attending school within the year (male)
Column 24 – Children attending school within the year (female)
Column 25 – Persons over the age of 20 who cannot read or write (male)
Column 26 – Persons over the age of 20 who cannot read or write (female)
Column 27 – Births in 1860 (male)
Column 28 – Births in 1860 (female)
Column 29 – Deaths in 1860 (male)
Column 30 – Deaths in 1860 (female)
Column 31 – Deaths in 1860, age and cause of death
Column 34 – Houses, number of families living in house
Column 35 – Houses vacant
Column 36 – Houses being built
Column 37 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (horses)
Column 38 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (cows)
Column 39 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (sheep)
Column 40 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (pigs)
Column 41 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (value of livestock in dollars)
Column 42 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (carriages for pleasure)
Column 43 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (value of same in dollars)
Column 44 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (carriages for hire)
Column 45 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (value of same in dollars)
Column 46 – Quantity of land attached to tenement
Column 47 – Name of business or manufacture
Column 48 – Capital invested in business in real estate and personal estate
Column 49 – Raw material used, exclusive of fuel: quantities
Column 50 – Raw material used, exclusive of fuel: kinds
Column 51 – Raw material used, exclusive of fuel: value
Column 52 – What motive power or machinery
Column 53 – Average number of hands employed (male)
Column 54 – Average number of hands employed (female)
Column 55 – Average cost per month of male labor
Column 56 – Average cost per month of female labor
Column 57 – Annual product of business or manufacture (quantities)
Column 58 – Annual product of business or manufacture (kinds)
Column 59 – Annual product of business or manufacture (value)
Column 60 – Remarks
Canada East (Quebec) – Personal census
The headings were printed in French; below the headings have been translated.
Column 1 – Names of those living in the house
Column 2 – Profession, trade, or occupation
Column 3 – Place of birth
Column 4 – Married during the year
Column 5 – Religion
Column 6 – Residence if our of limits
Column 7 – Age on next birthday
Column 8 – Sex (male)
Column 9 – Sex (female)
Column 10 – Married or not married
Column 11 – Widowers
Column 12 – Widows
Column 13 – Colored persons, mulattos, or Indians
Column 14 – Residents, members of family (male)
Column 15 – Residents, members of family (female)
Column 16 – Residents, not members of the family (male)
Column 17 – Residents, not members of the family (female)
Column 18 – Members of family absent (male)
Column 19 – Members of family absent (female)
Column 20 – Deaf or dumb
Column 21 – Blind
Column 22 – Lunatics or idiots
Column 23 – Number of children attending school during the year (male)
Column 24 – Number of children attending school during the year (female)
Column 25 – Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read or write (male)
Column 26 – Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read or write (female)
Column 27 – Born in 1860 (male)
Column 28 – Born in 1860 (female)
Column 29 – Deaths in 1860 (male)
Column 30 – Deaths in 1860 (female)
Column 31 – Deaths in 1860, age and cause of death
Column 32 – Houses built in brick, stone, or wood, etc.
Column 33 – Houses, number of floors
Column 34 – Houses, number of families living in the house
Column 35 – Houses closed
Column 36 – Houses under construction
Column 37 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (horses)
Column 38 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (cows)
Column 39 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (sheep)
Column 40 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (pigs)
Column 41 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (value of livestock in dollars)
Column 42 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (carriages for pleasure)
Column 43 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (value of same in dollars)
Column 44 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (carriages for hire)
Column 45 – Livestock, etc., of townspeople and persons not farmers (value of same in dollars)
Column 46 – Quantity of land attached to tenement
Column 47 – Kind of business or manufacture
Column 48 – Capital invested in property or real estate
Column 49 – Raw material used, exclusive of fuel (quantities)
Column 50 – Raw material used, exclusive of fuel (kinds)
Column 51 – Raw material used, exclusive of fuel (value)
Column 52 – Motive power or machine
Column 53 – Average number of hands employed (men)
Column 54 – Average number of hands employed (women)
Column 55 – Average cost per month of male labor
Column 56 – Average cost per month of female labor
Column 57 – Annual product of business or manufacture (quantities)
Column 58 – Annual product of nosiness or manufacture (kind)
Column 59 – Annual product of business or manufacture (value)
Column 60 – Remarks
New Brunswick – Schedule no. 1, population
Column 1 – Number
Column 2 – Names of inhabitants
Column 3 – Sex
Column 4 – Relationship to head of family
Column 5 – Age
Column 6 – Race and where born
Column 7 – Rank or occupations
Column 8 – Religious profession
Column 9 – Children at school within the year
Column 10 – Sick and infirm
Column 11 – Deaf and dumb
Column 12 – Blind
Column 13 – Lunatic or idiotic
Column 14 – Births in previous year
Column 15 – Deaths in preceding year
Column 16 – Marriages in preceding year
Nova Scotia – Personal census by ages
The first page includes county, polling district number, abstract number, and the names of the heads of families. The following columns then pertain to each family unit.
Column 1 – Total population (males)
Column 2 – Total population (females)
Column 3 – Total population (totals)
Column 4 – Births since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 5 – Births since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 6 – Under one year of age (males)
Column 7 – Under one year of age (females)
Column 8 – Deaths under one year of age since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 9 – Deaths under one year of age since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 10 – Over one and under two years of age (males)
Column 11 – Over one and under two years of age (females)
Column 12 – Deaths between 1 and 2 years since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 13 – Deaths between 1 and 2 years since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 14 – Over two and under three years of age (males)
Column 15 – Over two and under three years of age (females)
Column 16 – Deaths between 2 and 3 years since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 17 – Deaths between 2 and 3 years since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 18 – Over three and under four years of age (males)
Column 19 – Over three and under four years of age (females)
Column 20 – Deaths between 3 and 4 years since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 21 – Deaths between 3 and 4 years since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 22 – Over four and under five years of age (males)
Column 23 – Over four and under five years of age (females)
Column 24 – Deaths between 4 and 5 years since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 25 – Deaths between 4 and 5 years since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 26 – Over five and under ten years of age (males)
Column 27 – Over five and under ten years of age (females)
Column 28 – Deaths between five and ten years of age since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 29 – Deaths between five and ten years of age since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 30 – Over 10 and under 15 years of age (males, married)
Column 31 – Over 10 and under 15 years of age (males, single)
Column 32 – Over 10 and under 15 years of age (females, married)
Column 33 – Over 10 and under 15 years of age (females, single)
Column 34 – Over 10 and under 15 years of age (male deaths since 30 March 1860)
Column 35 – Over 10 and under 15 years of age (female deaths since 30 March 1860)
Column 36 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age (males, married)
Column 37 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age (males, single)
Column 38 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age (males, widower)
Column 39 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age (females, married)
Column 40 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age (females, single)
Column 41 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age (females, widow)
Column 42 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 43 – Over 15 and under 20 years of age deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 44 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age (males, married)
Column 45 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age (males, single)
Column 46 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age (males, widower)
Column 47 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age (females, married)
Column 48 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age (females, single)
Column 49 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age (females, widow)
Column 50 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 51 – Over 20 and under 30 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 52 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age (males, married)
Column 53 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age (males, single)
Column 54 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age (males, widower)
Column 55 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age (females, married)
Column 56 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age (females, single)
Column 57 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age (females, widow)
Column 58 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 59 – Over 30 and under 40 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 60 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age (males, married)
Column 61 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age (males, single)
Column 62 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age (males, widower)
Column 63 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age (females, married)
Column 64 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age (females, single)
Column 65 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age (females, widow)
Column 66 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 67 – Over 40 and under 50 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 68 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age (males, married)
Column 69 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age (males, single)
Column 70 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age (males, widower)
Column 71 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age (females, married)
Column 72 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age (females, single)
Column 73 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age (females, widow)
Column 74 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 75 – Over 50 and under 60 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 76 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age (males, married)
Column 77 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age (males, single)
Column 78 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age (males, widower)
Column 79 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age (females, married)
Column 80 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age (females, single)
Column 81 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age (females, widow)
Column 82 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 83 – Over 60 and under 70 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 84 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age (males, married)
Column 85 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age (males, single)
Column 86 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age (males, widower)
Column 87 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age (females, married)
Column 88 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age (females, single)
Column 89 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age (females, widow)
Column 90 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 91 – Over 70 and under 80 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 92 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age (males, married)
Column 93 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age (males, single)
Column 94 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age (males, widower)
Column 95 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age (females, married)
Column 96 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age (females, single)
Column 97 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age (females, widow)
Column 98 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 99 – Over 80 and under 90 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 100 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age (males, married)
Column 101 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age (males, single)
Column 102 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age (males, widower)
Column 103 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age (females, married)
Column 104 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age (females, single)
Column 105 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age (females, widow)
Column 106 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 107 – Over 90 and under 100 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 108 – Over 100 years of age (males, married)
Column 109 – Over 100 years of age (males, single)
Column 110 – Over 100 years of age (males, widower)
Column 111 – Over 100 years of age (females, married)
Column 112 – Over 100 years of age (females, single)
Column 113 – Over 100 years of age (females, widow)
Column 114 – Over 100 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (males)
Column 115 – Over 100 years of age, deaths since 30 March 1860 (females)
Column 116 – Ages not given (males)
Column 117 – Ages not given (females)
Column 118 – Deaths, ages not given (males)
Column 119 – Deaths, ages not given (females)
Column 120 – Males (married)
Column 121 – Males (single)
Column 122 – Males (widowers)
Column 123 – Males (total)
Column 124 – Females (married)
Column 125 – Females (single)
Column 126 – Females (widows)
Column 127 – Females (total)
Column 128 – Males and females (grand total)
Column 129 – Deaths (males)
Column 130 – Deaths (females)
Column 131 – Deaf and dumb (males)
Column 132 – Deaf and dumb (females)
Column 133 – Blind (males)
Column 134 – Blind (females)
Column 135 – Lunatics (males)
Column 136 – Lunatics (females)
Column 137 – Idiots (males)
Column 138 – Idiots (females)
Column 139 – Cannot read, over 5 and under 15 years of age (males)
Column 140 – Cannot read, over 5 and under 15 years of age (females)
Column 141 – Cannot read, above 15 years (males)
Column 142 – Cannot read, above 15 years (females)
Column 143 – Cannot write, over 5 and under 15 years of age (males)
Column 144 – Cannot write, over 5 and under 15 years of age (females)
Column 145 – Cannot write, over 15 years (males)
Column 146 – Cannot write, over 15 years (females)
Column 147 – Married since 30 March 1860
Prince Edward Island – Heads of families
Column 1 – Name of city, town, township, or royalty
Column 2 – Name of the head of each family
Column 3 – Trade, profession, or occupation
Column 4 – Males under 5 years of age
Column 5 – Males from 5 to 16
Column 6 – Males from 16 to 21
Column 7 – Males from 21 to 45
Column 8 – Males from 45 to 60
Column 9 – Males upwards of 60
Column 10 – Females under 5 years of age
Column 11 – Females from 5 to 16
Column 12 – Females from 16 to 21
Column 13 – Females from 21 to 45
Column 14 – Females from 45 to 60
Column 15 – Females upwards of 60
Column 16 – Number of deaf and dumb in each family
Column 17 – Number of blind in each family
Column 18 – Number who have not been vaccinated or had the smallpox in each family
Column 19 – Total number in each family (including servants and apprentices)
Column 20 – Number of married persons in each family
Column 21 – Number of single persons in each family
Column 22 – Number of insane in each family
Column 23 – Number of your family married in the past year
Column 24 – Number of deaths in your family in the past year
Column 25 – Number of births in your family in the past year
Column 26 – Indians (males in each family)
Column 27 – Indians (females in each family)
Column 28 – Number of persons in each family in connection with the Church of England
Column 29 – Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces
Column 30 – Kirk of Scotland
Column 31 – Number of Roman Catholics in each family
Column 32 – Number of Methodists in each family
Column 33 – Number of Baptists in each family
Column 34 – Number of Bible Christians in each family
Column 35 – Number of Quakers in each family
Column 36 – Number of Universalists in each family
Column 37 – Number of each family of any other denomination
Column 38 – Number of acres held by each family by fee simple
Column 39 – Number of acres held by each family by leasehold or by agreement for lease
Column 40 – Number of acres held by each family by verbal agreement
Column 41 – Number of acres held by each family or occupants being neither freeholders nor tenants
Column 42 – Number of years of term of lease
Column 43 – Number of years of term of lease expired
Column 44 – Amount of rent paid by each family (present rent paid by each family per acre)
Column 45 – Amount of rent paid by each family (proprietor's name)
Column 46 – Amount of rent paid by each family (increasing rent per acre)
Column 47 – Amount of rent paid by each family (full rent, and what year it comes to full rent)
Column 48 – Amount of rent paid by each family (rent in sterling)
Column 49 – Amount of rent paid by each family (rent in currency)
Notable individuals found within this census
Timothy Eaton
Timothy Eaton, the founder of Eaton’s department store, is listed in the 1861 census. As his marriage to Margaret wouldn’t take place till the following year, Timothy is listed as single. His occupation is recorded as that of ‘grocer + baker’. Having been born in Ireland, his place of birth is recorded as such. His religion is listed as Methodist, and it is recorded that four family members reside at this location. This census also provides details about an individual’s abode: Timothy’s house is listed as a frame house with two stories and two families living in the house.
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