Census Records: A Key to Tracing Swedish Ancestry
Census records play a role in North American genealogy similar that of household examination records in Sweden. While a whole range of other records may be relevant depending on the research question, censuses are included in almost all research projects tracing Swedish ancestors in Canada the United States. In addition, census records are often a very effective starting point.
Censuses in Canada and the U.S.
Canada and the United States share some similarities in their census histories. U.S. federal censuses have been conducted every 10 years since 1790. Additionally, some states carried out their own censuses between federal counts. Canada has held nation wide censuses every ten years since 1871, with earlier ones conducted by individual colonies. Canada also organized shorter censuses every five year (years ending with 6). All of these censuses potentially offer vital clues when researching Swedish American ancestry.
First U.S. Census – 1790
The first U.S. federal census in 1790 covered the original 13 states, as well as select districts and territories. It recorded only the name of the head of household; all other members were simply counted numerically. As a result, the names of children, wives, or enslaved individuals do not appear in this census. Instead, it listed the number of individuals in the following categories: free white males aged 16 and over, free white males under 16, free white females, other free persons, and enslaved persons.
At that time, the number of Swedes in the U.S. was small – estimated at just 2,000 to 3,000 people. Many were descendants of settlers from the former New Sweden colony (1638–1655), located in present-day Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, which had later come under Dutch and then British control.
Names in the 1850 & 1870 U.S. Censuses
The 1850 federal census was the first to list the names of every free person in each household. This means you can find the names of all non-enslaved women and children in those census records. This is especially helpful for tracing Swedish ancestors who had immigrated to the U.S. by that time.
In addition to names, the 1850 census also gathered data on schooling, taxation, crimes, wages, estate values, and mortality. The 1870 census, which was conducted after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, recorded the names of all household members.
Canada’s First National Census – 1871
Canada’s 1871 census covered Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and parts of Manitoba. It focused on agricultural, industrial, and fishing occupations, and recorded names, ages, birthplaces, occupations, religion, and ethnic origins. These may contain important details for confirming Swedish ancestry. The 1871 census also documented land ownership, household members, and migration patterns, offering insights into family movements.
Many Swedish immigrants worked in farming, forestry, or fishing, making the industrial schedules particularly useful. Those schedules were specialized census forms used alongside the population schedules in some Canadian censuses – most notably in 1871 – to collect detailed information about industrial, commercial, and manufacturing activity.
No note is also that some Swedes moved between Canada and the U.S. before settling permanently, so if ancestors are not found in U.S. records, they might appear in Canadian censuses instead – and vice versa.
Peak of Immigration: 1880 & 1890 U.S. Censuses
Swedish immigration to North America peaked during the 1880s. As a result, the 1880 and 1890 U.S. census records are especially valuable for genealogical research.
The 1880 federal census was the first to record each person’s relationship to the head of household, greatly aiding genealogists in identifying family structures. It also included the birthplaces of each person’s parents, years spent in the U.S., and citizenship status – details critical for tracing immigrant origins.
Unfortunately, most of the 1890 U.S. federal census was destroyed in a fire in 1921. Only fragments survived, covering about 6,000 individuals out of a total population nearing 63 million. A search for Swedes in the surviving 1890 census at FamilySearch yields only a handful of results. Due to this loss, researchers must rely on alternative sources from that era, such as city directories, state censuses, veterans schedules, tax records, or land deeds.
Swedes in the 1881 & 1891 Canadian Censuses
The 1881 Canadian census covered all provinces and territories that were part of Canada at the time, including Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and the Northwest Territories. The 1891 census followed a similar structure, collecting data on population, occupation, religion, and ethnicity.
Both the 1881 and 1891 censuses recorded names, ages, birthplaces, occupations, and ethnic origins. This is key information for confirming Swedish (and people of other nationalities’ roots). The 1891 census went a step further by adding the year of immigration and parents’ birthplaces, which helps trace family movements. This is especially helpful for tracking Swedes who moved between Canada and the U.S. or who settled in Swedish communities in provinces like Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
North American Censuses in the 1900s
The censuses of the 1900s are of course also helpful when researching Swedish immigrants to North America. If your ancestors immigrated to the U.S. in the 1880s, the census of 1900 may be the best replacement record for the burnt 1890s census data.
In the United States, the most recent available census for genealogy research is from 1950. This is because the U.S. has a 72-year privacy rule for those records, meaning the 1950 census became publicly available in 2022. The 1950 U.S. Census is particularly useful for confirming immigration details and family relationships. It includes each person’s name, age, birthplace, and citizenship status. This may give you clues to look for documents such as naturalization records and passports that can provide you with more information.
In Canada, the most recent available census is from 1931, released in 2023 due to the country’s 92-year privacy rule. This census provides important immigration and ethnic origin information. It includes names, ages, birthplaces, and years of immigration – key data for tracing Swedish arrivals and settlement patterns in Canada.
Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna
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