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Tips on How to Search
Censuses
Required Information
What Searches Are Invalid
Tips for Searching
Censuses
Narrow Your Search
Return to Census Search
Required Information
You must enter at least:
- An individual’s last name.
OR
- An individual's first name.
OR
- Head of household first name or last name, or both.
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What Searches Are Invalid?
FamilySearch will not search for:
- Middle names. Census records will ignore middle names unless you check the Use exact spelling box.
When you check Use exact spelling, the search will look for the individual's first, middle, and last
name exactly as you listed it. Initials are also often used
for middle names. If you check Use exact spelling, you may not list
birth year, census place, or race/ethnic origin.
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Tips
for Searching Censuses
- You may search in a specific census. In the census field,
you can choose the 1880 United States, 1881 British Isles, or
the 1881 Canadian Census. You also can search all censuses at
once.
- Up to 200 results will
be displayed on a page when you select a specific census to
search. Click Next to look at the other results.
- Up to 50 results will
be displayed for each census on a page when you search all of
the censuses at once. Click Next to look at the other
results.
- For common surnames, fill in additional fields to improve
your search results. You will get better results if you enter
an individual’s first name and last name.
- You may search for the head of household. Enter the head of
household's first name, last name, or both.
- Married women are normally found under their married name
rather than their maiden name.
- When searching the census, it may be useful to consider
whether the person is married and in his or her own household or
living with his or her parents.
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Narrow Your Search
You can now use the following to make your search more
specific:
- A specific census.
- Event (Birthplace). * Note: Birth years are calculated
from the census year and the individual's age. It may be
desirable to use the the +/- 5 years located in the birth year
range box to get better results.
- Birth year range. (You must first enter a birth year in the birth year field.)
- Birth year.
- Race or ethnic origin. (You can search for race when the 1880
United States Census is selected. Ethnic Origin can be
searched when you select the 1881 Canadian Census.)
- Census state, province, or county.
- Use Exact Spelling (If you check Use exact spelling, you
may not list head of household, birthplace, birth year, or
census place.)
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