Canada Census 1861

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.

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.

• 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 32 – Houses (brink, stone, frame, log, etc.)
• Column 33 – Houses, number of stories
• 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

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

• 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

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

• 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)

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.

• 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.

• Did your ancestors travel to Canada from the United Kingdom? Did they leave Canada for the United States? If so, be sure to check out our census records for the United States and the United Kingdom.

• 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.ca/1861/jpg/4108683_00361.jpg, you would edit the number so that instead of ending in -00361 it ended in -00362, allowing you to see the next page.