INTRODUCTION TO THE US FEDERAL CENSUS RECORDS
Federal census records contain a lot of valuable information
for those researching their family's roots. They often provide
more than just a listing of the family. It is quite likely
you will find information on people's ages, sex, place of birth,
relationship to the head-of-household etc. They can also contain
the evidence needed for proving citizenship.
Census Indexes
Almost all the censuse records for the years 1790 thru 1870 have
had census indexes compiled. They generally list heads of families
only. The county, the town and page number are referenced to the
head of household. The 1790-1840 indexes list only the heads of
households. Dependents and spouses were listed as numeric data by
sex, age group and color.
Beginning in 1850, the censuses list everyone (except slaves) by
name, age and sex. Almost all indexes still only list the head of
household. It is important to note that 75 to 80 percent of the
individuals counted on the censuses between 1850 and 1870 are
omitted from the indexes due to their dependent status.
The value of census indexes is in locating a family quickly when
you happen to know the head of household's full name. Even knowing
just the family name, can save hundred's of hours in research time.
For example, you're looking for one year old Samuel Kratzer residing
in Iowa in 1850. You have no idea who the father was but because of
Samuel's age, family name and his state of residence, the household
is unique. The chances of finding more than one Kratzer family with
a one year old named Samuel is highly unlikely. Each Kratzer family
listed can be examined and the wrong ones eliminated. Eventually,
a one year old Samuel Kratzer would be found in the household of
William H. Kratzer in Mahaska County, Oskaloose Township on page
174 of the census record.
The value of this type of search is profound. Uncommon family names
(surnames) often require only the review of a few households in
order to find whom you are looking for. This search (as outlined)
is often the only means of proving the parentage of an ancestor
born between 1830 and 1870. See our Census Index Search Form.
Review of the Censuses
As a rule the information gathered in each successive census
is progressively more detailed. The records for the period
1790 - 1840 show the names of heads of families only, other
members of the family are simply listed as statistics by age
groups, sex, and race (white or negro). All subsequent censuses,
however, list each individual in a household by name with the
exception of the slave censuses for 1850 and 1860, which show
only the name of the owner and the number of slaves he owned by
age, group and sex.
The 1850 census was the first to record each person's age,
occupation (if over age 15 ), and place of birth. If the parent
of a person listed in the 1870 census was of foreign birth, that
fact is indicated. The 1880 census adds the relationship of each
individual to the head of the family, and gives the place of
birth of the parents of the person listed.
Most of the 1890 census was destroyed by fire. The few surviving
fragments have been microfilmed and are available by ordering
Series M407 Rolls 1, 2, and 3. The few that remain cover the
following areas:
Roll 1
ALABAMA: Perry County (Perryville Beat 11 and Severe Beat 8)
Roll 2
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Streets Q, R, S, 13th, 14th,
15th, Riggs, Johnson Ave.
Roll 3
GEORGIA: Muscogee county (Columbus)
ILLINOIS: McDonough county (Mound Township)
MINNESOTA: Wright county (Rockford)
NEW JERSEY: Hudson county (Jersey City)
NEW YORK: Westchester county (Eastchester)
Suffolk county (Brookhaven Township)
NORTH CAROLINA: Gaston county
(South Point and River Bend Townships)
Cleveland county (Township No. 2)
OHIO: Hamilton county (Cinncinnati)
Clinton county (Wayne Township)
SOUTH DAKOTA: Union county (Jefferson Township)
TEXAS: Ellis county (Justice Precinct No. 6, Mountain Peak
and Ovila Precinct), Hood county (Precinct No. 5)
Rusk County (Precinct No. 6 and Justice Precinct No. 7)
Trinity County (Trinity Town and Precinct No. 2)
Kaufman County (Kaufman).
Due to a bit of fortuitous luck, an additional census for 1890
was conducted. The 1890 Special Census of Union Veterans and
Widows was also taken in 1890. It's existence helps to partially
fill what would otherwise be a huge 20 year gap in the Federal
census records.
The 1890 Special Census of Union Veterans and Widows of Union
Veterans of the Civil War gives information about the military
service of each veteran named and the post office address of
each listed person who was living at the time of the census.
The 1900 census consisted originally of 7 schedules. Two
population schedules were prepared, one for native Americans
and one for all other residents. These are the schedules
that are Reproduced as microfilm publication T623. The five
remaining schedules, containing information on agriculture,
manufacturers, mortality, and crime, are not available from the
National Archives at this time.
The 1900 census gives for each person: name; address;
relationship to the head of the household; color or race; sex;
month and year of birth; age at last birthday; marital status;
if a wife is listed within the household, then the number of
years married, number of children born of that marriage, and
the number of children living; places of birth of each
individual and of the parents of each individual; citizenship;
if the individual is foreign born, then the year of immigration
and the number of years in the United States; the citizenship
status of foreign born individuals over age 21; occupation;
whether or not the person can read, write, and speak English;
whether home is owned or rented; whether or not home is a farm;
and whether or not home is mortgaged.
The 1910 census schedules record the following information for
each person: name; relationship to head of household; sex; color
or race; age at last birthday; marital status; length of present
marriage; if a mother, number of children and number of living
children; place of birth; place of birth of parents; if foreign
born, year of immigration and citizenship status; language
spoken; occupation; type of industry employed in; if employer,
employee, or self-employed; if unemployed; number of weeks
unemployed in 1909; if home is rented or owned; if home is
owned, free or mortgaged; if home is a house or a farm; if a
survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy; if blind
in both eyes; and if deaf or dumb. The forms used to survey
Indians also recorded the tribe and/or band.
The 1920 census format and information closely resembles that
of the 1910 census. The 1920 census, however, did not ask about
unemployment on the day of the census, nor did it ask about
service in the Union or Confederate army or navy. Questions
about how long a couple had been married were also omitted. The
bureau modified the enumeration of inmates of institutions and
dependent, defective, and delinquent classes.
The 1920 census includes four new questions: one asking the
year of naturalization and three about mother tonque.
Because of the changes in some boundaries following World War I
enumerators were instructed to report the province (state or
region) or city of persons declaring they or their parents had
been born in Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, or Turkey. If a
person had been born in any other foreign country, only the
name of the country was to be entered.
The instructions to the enumerators did not require that
individuals spell out their names. Enumerators wrote down the
information given to them; they were not authorized to request
proof of age, date of arrival, or other information. People
were known to change their ages between censuses, and some
people claimed not to know their age. The race determination
was based on the enumerator's impressions.
Individuals were listed as residents of the place in which they
regularly slept, not where they worked or might be visiting.
People with no regular residence, including "floaters" and
members of transient railroad or construction camps, were
enumerated as residents of the place where they were when the
census was taken. Enumerators were also to ask if any family
members were temporarily absent; if so, these were to be listed
either with the household or on the last schedule for the census
subdivision. Thus, the user should always check that page.
Guide To The Soundex and Miracode Systems
Although soundex indexes can seem confusing at first, they need
not be if the time is taken to understand what they are and how
they can help you. Soundex and Miracode indexes exist for
the census years 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920.
During the Depression years, the names from the census records
were written down on file cards (by household). These cards were
then sorted by surname according to what are called the Soundex
Rules. In this way a "code" was generated for that surname. The
cards were then sorted alphabetically by the given name of the
head-of-household.
This resulted in a listing of people from the censuses whose
surnames (though spelled differently) were grouped together
because they sounded alike. The soundex cards were then
microfilmed.
The U.S. Federal census soundex microfilm rolls are available
from us on a Special Order basis. ($19.95 per roll.) Since the
same, and often times more information is listed on the actual
census. We recommend you have us conduct a Search for you. Once
the family you're interested in is located, you can then order
the census microfilm from us. This will save you time and money.
A Little Known Fact About Soundexes
Common names like John Jones, John Smith or John Williams result
in hundreds of soundex cards which bear the same name. When this
occurs, you will often find the cards sorted by the state of birth
of the head-of-household, knowing this will make it much easier
for them to be found. Soundex Search
The Soundex/Miracode System
The Soundex/Miracode filing system, starts out alphabetic
by utilizing the first letter of surname and then generates a
numeric code for the balance of the surname. When sorted the
soundex code groups similar sounding names together, even when
they may be of variant spellings.
To search for a particular surname, you must first work out its
soundex code. No number is assigned to the first letter of the
surname. If the name is Kuhne, for example, the code will be in
the "K" segment of the index. The soundex code for
Kuhne, worked out according to the system below, is 500.
Soundex Coding Guide
Key Letters and Equivalents
1 b,p,f,v
2 c,s,k,g,j,q,x,z
3 d,t
4 l
5 m,n
6 r
The letters a, e, i, o, u, y, w, and h are not coded. The
first letter of a surname is not coded.
Every Soundex/Miracode number must be a 3 digit number. A name
yielding no code numbers, as Lee, would thus be L000, one
yielding only one code number would have two zeros added, as
Kuhne, coded as K500; and one yielding two code numbers would
have one zero added, as Ebell, coded as E140. Not more than
three digits are used, so Ebelson would be coded as E142, not
E1425.
When two key letters or equivalents appear together, or one key
letter immediately follows or precedes an equivalent, the two
are coded as one letter, by a single number, as follows: Kelly,
coded as K400; Buerck, coded as B620; Lloyd, coded as L300; and
Schaefer, coded as S160.
If several surnames have the same code, the cards for them are
arranged alphabetically by given name. There are divider cards
showing most code numbers, but not all. For instance, one
divider may be numbered 350 and the next one 400. Between the
two divider cards there may be names coded 353, 350, 360, 365,
and 355, but instead of being in numerical order they are
interfiled alphabetically by given name.
Such prefixes to surnames as "van," "Von," "Di," "de," "le,"
"Di," "D'," "dela," or "du" are sometimes disregarded in
alphabetizing and in coding.
The following names are examples of Soundex/Miracode coding and
are given only as illustrations.
Letters
Name Coded Code No.
Allricht l,r,c A 462
Eberhard b,r,r E 166
Engebrethson n,g,b E 521
Heimbach m,b,c H 512
Hanselmann n,s,l H 524
Henzelmann n,z,l H 524
Hildebrand l,d,b H 431
Kavanagh v,n,g K 152
Lind, Van n,d L 530
Lukaschowsky k,s,s L 222
McDonnell c,d,n M 235
McGee c M 200
O'Brien b,r,n O 165
Opnian p,n,n O 155
Oppenheimer p,n,m O 155
Riedemanas d,m,n R 355
Zita t Z 300
Zitzmeinn t,z,m Z 325
Native Americans, Orientals, and Religious Nuns
Researchers using the Soundex/Miracode system to locate
religious nuns or persons with American Indian or oriental
names should be aware of the way such names were coded.
Variations in coding differed from the normal coding system.
Phonetically spelled oriental and Indian names were sometimes
coded as if one continuous name or, if a distinguishable
surname was given, the names were coded in the normal manner.
For example, the American Indian name Shinka-Wa-Sa may have
been coded as "Shinka" (S520) or "Sa" (S000). Researchers
should investigate the various possibilities of coding such
names. Religious nun names were coded as if "Sister" was
their surname, and they appear in each State's Soundex/Miracode
under the code "S236." Within the State's Soundex/Miracode
code S236, the names are not necessarily in alphabetical order.
Relationship Terms and Abbreviations Used in the
Soundex and Miracode Systems
Adopted ........................... Ad
Adopted Child .................. Ad.Cl
Adopted Daughter ................ Ad.D
Adopted Grandchild ............ Ad.Gcl
Adopted Mother .................. Ad.M
Adopted Son ..................... Ad.S
Apprentice .........................Ap
Attendant ......................... At
Assistant ....................... Asst
Aunt ............................... A
Aunt-In-Law ....................... Al
Bartender ........................ Bar
Boarder ........................... Bo
Bound Girl .................... B.Girl
Bound Boy ...................... B.Boy
Boy .............................. Boy
Brother ............................ B
Brother-In-Law .................... Bl
Butler ............................ Bu
Captain .......................... Cap
Chamber Maid ..................... Cha
Child ............................. Cl
Coachman ......................... Coa
Companion ........................ Com
Cook ............................ Cook
Cousin ............................. C
Cousin-In-Law .................... Cil
Daughter ........................... D
Daughter-In-Law ................... Dl
Day Laborer ...................... Dla
Dish Washer ....................... Dw
Domestic ......................... Dom
Employee ......................... Emp
Engineer .......................... En
Farm Hand ....................... Fa.H
Farm Laborer .................... Fa.L
Farm Worker ..................... Fa.W
Father ............................. F
Father-In-Law ..................... Fl
Fireman ........................... Fi
First Cousin ................. First C
Foster Brother .................. Fo.B
Foster Sister .................. Fo.Si
Foster Son ...................... Fo.S
God Child ..................... God Cl
Governess ......................... Go
Grand Child ...................... Gcl
Grand Daughter .................... Gd
Grand Father ...................... Gf
Grand Mother ...................... GM
Grand Mother-In-Law .............. Gml
Grand Son ......................... Gs
Grand Son-In-Law ................. Gsl
Great Grandfather ................ Ggf
Grand Niece ...................... Gni
(same as Great Niece)
Grand Nephew ...................... Gn
(same as Great Nephew)
Great Grandmother ................ Ggm
Great-Great-Grandfather ......... Gggf
Great-Great-Grandmother ......... Gggm
Guardian ......................... Gua
Guest .......................... Guest
Half Sister ..................... H.Si
Half Sister-In-Law ............. H.Sil
Half Brother ...................... Hb
Half Brother-In-Law .............. Hbl
Help ............................ Help
Herder ............................ He
Hired Girl ...................... H.Gi
Hired Hand ....................... H.H
Hireling ......................... Hlg
Housekeeper ....................... Hk
Housemaid ..................... H.Maid
House Worker ...................... Hw
Husband ...................... Husband
Inmate ........................ Inmate
Laborer ........................... La
Laundry .......................... Lau
Lodger ............................. L
Maid ............................ Maid
Manager .......................... Man
Matron ........................... Mat
Mother ............................. M
Mother-In-Law ..................... Ml
Nephew ............................. N
Nephew-In-Law ..................... Nl
Niece ............................. Ni
Niece-In-Law ..................... Nil
Nurse ............................. Nu
Officer ............................ O
Partner ........................... Pa
Patient ............................ P
Physician ......................... Ph
Porter ........................... Por
Principal ........................ Pri
Prisoner .......................... Pr
Private .......................... Prv
Pupil ............................. Pu
Roomer ............................. R
Sailor ............................ Sa
Saleslady ........................ Sal
Servant ........................... Se
Servant's child ................ Se.Cl
Sister ............................ Si
Son ................................ S
Son-In-Law ........................ Sl
Step Brother ...................... Sb
Step Brother-In-Law .............. Sbl
Step Child ....................... Scl
Step Daughter ..................... Sd
Step Daughter-in-Law ............. Sdl
Step Father ....................... Sf
Step Father-in-Law ............... Sfl
Step Granddaughter ............... Sgd
Step Grandson .................... Sgs
Step Mother ....................... Sm
Step Mother-in-Law ............... Sml
Step Sister ...................... Ssi
Step Sister-in-Law .............. Ssil
Step Son .......................... Ss
Step Son-In-Law .................. Ssl
Superintendent .................... Su
Tenant ........................... Ten
Uncle .............................. U
Uncle-ln-Law ...................... Ul
Visitor ........................... Vi
Waiter ............................ Wt
Waitress ......................... Wai
Ward ............................ Ward
Warden ............................ Wa
Wife ............................... W
Workman .......................... Wkm
Relationship Terms and Abbreviations Used in the
Soundex and Miracode Systems
Translation of Relationship Terms Given in Spanish
Jefe ............................. Head
Marido ........................ Husband
Marida ........................... Wife
Esposo .........................Husband
Esposa ........................... Wife
Mujer ..................... Wife, woman
Nino ....................... Male Child
Nina ..................... Female Child
Hijo .............................. Son
Hija ......................... Daughter
Padre .......................... Father
Madre .......................... Mother
Hermano ....................... Brother
Hermana ........................ Sister
Tio ............................. Uncle
Tia .............................. Aunt
Sobrino ........................ Nephew
Sobrina ......................... Niece
Madrastra ................. Step-mother
Hyastra ................. Step-Daughter
Hermano de leche ....... Foster Brother
Ama de cria ............. Foster mother
Hijanuerno ............ Daughter-in-law
Hijoyerno .................. Son-in-law
Yerno ...................... Son-in-law
Cunada .................. Sister-in-law
Cunado ................. Brother-in-law
Abuelo .................... Grandfather
Abuela .................... Grandmother
Bisabuelo ........... Great-Grandfather
Bisnieto ............... Great-grandson
Nieta ...................... Grandchild
Primo (a)....................... Cousin
Ado ........................... Adopted
Instilutriz ................. Governess
Criada ............... Servant or nurse
Ninera .......................... Nurse
Cuidar .......................... Nurse
Criar ........................... Nurse
Cuarto de lonos ................. Nurse
Alojado ........................ Lodger
Huesped ......................... Guest
Pensionista ................... Boarder
Pupilo ........................ Boarder
Huesped ....................... Boarder
Suegro .................. Father-in-law
Suegra .................. Mother-in-law
Interna ...................... Resident
Blanco .......................... White
Granjero ....................... Farmer
Ageno ........................... Alien
Extrano ......................... Alien
Extranero ....................... Alien
Preso ........................ Prisoner
Discipulo ....................... Pupil
Paciente ...................... Patient
Manicomio ............... Insane Asylum
Municipio ...................... County
Bario ............................ City
Calle .......................... Street
B-Blanco-white
N-Negro-Black
H-Female
V-Male
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