What’s unique about your Canadian ancestry? Do Canadians have their own distinctive ethnicity and heritage? Read along to learn more about your Canadian ancestors and what their lives might mean to you.
Where Did My Canadian Ancestors Come From?
People of Canada today can trace their ancestors to places all over the world. Canada’s population of over 36 million has a diverse culture with a mix of ancestry, languages, and ethnicities.
Indigenous Canadian Ancestry
The first ancestors living in today’s Canada were the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Indigenous people fell into 3 main groups: First Nations, Metis, and Inuit. If you believe your ancestors fall into one of these groups, you can learn more about effective research strategies here.
French Canadian Ancestry
French Canadians are descendants of French settlers who came to Canada in the 1600s. Acadians and Québécois are 2 of the largest groups of French Canadians. Descendants of Québécois are mostly French-speaking, unlike the majority of Canadians who speak English.
Your Canadian ancestors of French descent may have enjoyed the cuisine they brought from France, but over time, French-Canadians have developed their own special cuisine. Poutine is one of the most popular dishes in Quebec. It is made of French fries, topped with cheese curds and a hot beef gravy.
Loyalist Canadian Ancestry
You may be surprised to find your ancestor came to Canada from the United States after the Revolutionary War. Many loyalists found their way to the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. The Library and Archives of Canada offers a wide variety of records that may help you piece together your loyalist ancestry who settled in Canada.
English Canadian Ancestry
English ancestry in Canada is most prevalent. The English ancestors included settlers from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. These large groups of immigrants brought their traditions, culture, and customs to Canada. For example, Canadian folk music was greatly influenced by the fiddle of traditional Irish tunes.
Asian Canadian Ancestry
Continued immigration plays a significant role in the diversity of Canadian ethnicity and ancestry today. Most immigrants came from Europe before 1970. Since then, more and more Asian peoples have settled in Canada.
In 2016, the largest Asian groups in Canada included those with ancestry from China, India, and the Phillipines.
How Do I Find My Canadian Ancestors?
Like all people who are searching for their family roots, begin with yourself. Then, start collecting information about your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Information you should focus on includes:
- Full name
- Birth date
- Birthplace
- Marriage date
- Marriage place
- Spouse name
- Death date
- Death place
You will then use the information you collected to find records such as birth, marriage, and death records. Canada has also taken a census every decade since 1871. Many Canadian records and censuses can be found online for free at FamilySearch.org.
Would you like to learn more about researching your Canadian ancestors but could use some guidance? Take a look at these free online classes from RootsTech, and begin the research into your Canadian ancestry!
Discover More about Your Canadian Heritage
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