1881 Canada Census

The 1881 Canada census included the then seven provinces of the country - British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. It also included the Northwest Territories, which then encompassed the modern-day Alberta, Saskatchewan, northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador, Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories.

This 1881 census of Canada was to start on April 4, 1881. Answers given to the questions were to reflect the person's status as of that date regardless of the actual date the enumerator came.

The enumerators were to count individuals at their usual place of habitation, with the head of the household to be listed first and followed by the remaining members of the household. It was the head of household's responsibility to provide the information about the household.


Column Question
To be numbered in the order of visitation (1-6)
1 Vessels
2 Shanties
3 Houses in construction
4 Houses uninhabited
5 Houses inhabited
6 Families
7 Names
8 Sex (M or F)
9 Age
10 Born within last 12 months
11 Country or province of birth
12 Religion
13 Origin
14 Profession, occupation or trade
15 Married or widowed
16 Going to school
Infirmities (17-19)
17 Deaf and dumb
18 Blind
19 Unsound mind
20 Dates of operations and remarks


To save an Adobe Acrobat copy of the 1881 Canada questions click here

From the 1881 Canada Census to the Canadian Census Questions page

Return to the general Census page

Return to the Genealogy Made Easier Home Page

Family tree pictures are invaluable if you can find them

My mother and her father about 1912 when she was 4 years old