The U.S. census will help you build your family tree. With 70 million names, the census is the best place to find basic information about your relatives. Start you search by filling in the form below. The search box below will search U.S. Federal Census records as well as Birth, Marriage, death records and historical newspapers. The search results will be displayed on Ancestry.com's website.

Questions

What is a census?

What is a census index?

What information does this census index collection contain?

What is the scope and value of this census index database?

How can the actual census records help me in my family history research?

What can I learn about my family from a census record?

Why am I unable to find certain individuals in census schedules or in the indexes to them?

Which censuses are indexed in this collection?

If no federal census is available for the years I am searching, where should I search?

What do I do when I find someone listed in the census indexes?

What are some helpful tips when searching the indexes?

How accurate is this census data?

What are some common census mistakes or pitfalls to be aware of while doing research?

Is there any way to receive census information for schedules completed after 1920?

Responses

1. What is a census?
A census is defined as an official enumeration of the people of a nation, state, district, or city, together with the collecting of statistics concerning their property, nativity, age, sex, occupation, etc. Since 1790, the U.S. government has taken a nationwide population count every ten years. Early censuses were essentially basic counts of inhabitants; but as the nation grew, so did the need for statistics that would reflect the characteristics of the people. Succeeding enumerations solicited more information; by 1920, census enumerators asked twenty-nine questions of every head of household and almost as many questions of everyone else in the residence. Few, if any records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do the U.S. censuses.

2. What is a census index?
Census indexes serve as the gateway to original and compiled records by identifying where people lived. Few sources are as comprehensive or easy to use. They are the first place most American genealogists begin their research. Census and tax list indexes save time and can lead to much more information.

3. What information does this census index collection contain?
Like other indexes, the U.S. Federal Census Index database contains only a portion of what is found in the records to which it refers. In this case, the census indexes contain name, state and county (and often township) of residence, census year and type, and page number where the individual is found in the census record. It is important that researchers continue on in their research to locate an individual in the census records themselves, as they will contain more information and verify that the index entry was correct. Even if an entry is not located in an index, researchers should still check the census records for the appropriate locality in the event indexers missed the individual.

The contents of each field in the database are described below:

Year: The year in which the census was taken, or, when dealing with "early" census records (see below), the year recorded in the record serving as substitute.

Last Name, First Name: The last name and first name of the individual being indexed. The First Name field will occasionally contain middle names or initials, titles (like Rev. for Reverend or Maj. for Major), or other descriptive information. Entries for which the indexer was unsure of the actual spelling are marked with one or more asterisks. Researchers finding asterisked entries should be especially sure to verify the index entry against the census schedules themselves.

Township/Other Info: This field generally describes the residence of the indexed entry in greater geographic detail. Often times this description takes the form of a township, district, division, enumeration district, or ward within a county or area (often abbreviated in the field as "Twp.", "Dist.", "Div.", "E.D.", and "W.", respectively. Occasionally this field will contain descriptive information about the entry. For example, entries indexing earlier censuses (i.e. 1790 Federal Censuses) may contain statistical information about the other members of the household.

Record Type: A brief description of the type of record being indexed. In most cases the record type is a federal census population schedule. Other records, particularly for the "early census" series, were also used. These include voter lists, probate records, resident's lists, tax lists, state censuses, and non-population schedules (i.e. veterans schedules, slave schedules).

Database: A description of the year, state, and record from which the index material was created.

ID#: A unique identification number assigned to each entry in the index. Researchers who would like to use our Feedback Form to report inaccurate census entries must incorporate this ID# into the form.

4. What is the scope and value of this census index database?
The databases which comprise the U.S. Federal Census Indexes are one of the largest sets of census indexes available. The broad time period and large number of states covered make these indexes very important locator tools. Researchers frequently use them to find ancestors when the researcher does not know where they lived. You can sometimes identify a relative with no more prior information than a name. The indexes often help trace the movements of a family from state to state over many years. They are an easy way to locate specific places where your ancestor lived and to identify when they lived there. The broad nature of these indexes also makes them valuable for identifying previously unknown places to search for relatives. You may discover you have been searching the "wrong" county or state and find new areas to try for further or larger clusters of family members.

5. How can the actual census records help me in my family history research?
Few records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do the federal censuses. The census is often the best starting point for further genealogical research. If nothing else, census records are important sources for placing individuals in specific places at specific times. When you can't find any family, vital, or religious records, census records may be the only means to find any details of a person's life.

6. What can I learn about my family from a census record?
A census record provides information including the age, sex, race, occupation, and birthplace of each person in a household. You can also find information about whether or not members of the household attended school, are literate, or married within the year. You might also find answers to these questions: What is the name of the slave owner? What were the places of birth of the person's parents? In what year did this person immigrate to the United States and if naturalized, what was the year of naturalization?

7. Why am I unable to find certain individuals in census schedules or in the indexes to them?
From the first enumeration in 1790 to the most recent in 1990, the government has experienced difficulties in gathering the precise information it desired for a number of reasons. At least one of the problems experienced in extracting information from individuals for the first census continues to vex officials today: There were and still are many people who simply do not trust the government's motives. Many citizens have worried that their answers to census questions might be used against them, particularly regarding issues related to taxation, military service, and immigration.

Despite the wealth of information available in census indexes, there are limitations. These include incomplete information, mis-transcribed information, mis-recorded information, and incorrect information. Reasons for these problems include persons who refused to answer the enumerators questions, persons who lied in answer to the enumerators questions, persons missed by the enumerators, and human error in writing down the information originally or transmitting it incorrectly.

8. Which censuses are indexed in this collection?
Most U.S. states are covered in the AIS Census Index collection. The data runs generally from 1790 to 1870, though many states have an "early census" series, which are census substitutes compiled from tax lists, probate indexes, and the like. These early records may cover a time period in a state before federal censuses were taken. In addition, some states have census indexes for later census years (Wyoming 1880, Hawaii 1910, Colorado 1880, etc.). For a complete listing of the indexes available online at Ancestry.com, see Census Records.

In addition to the prescribed enumeration, the census records in this collection include three different types of questionnaires or schedules. These are the mortality, veteran, and slave schedules.

MORTALITY SCHEDULES
Included in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses were a separate set of questions regarding those who died in the twelve months prior to the enumeration. They list persons who died between 1 June - 31 May of the year prior to the census. Even though these mortality lists are widely believed to underreport the actual numbers of deceased, they are still a valuable source of information. In many states where vital records were not kept at that time, they provide a nation-wide death register for each of five years between 1849 and 1880. The schedule lists the deceased's name, sex, age, race, whether widowed or not, place of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of death. In 1870 the parents' birthplace was added.

VETERAN SCHEDULES (1840-1890)
In 1840 a listing of living Revolutionary War veterans was included in the census. This enumeration took the form of a handwritten list recorded on the backside of the original printed census forms. Beginning in 1870, the enumerators asked questions regarding Civil War veterans and lists were compiled from these records. In both cases, only the name of the veteran is available.

SLAVE SCHEDULES
In 1850 and 1860, an enumeration of slaves was performed in connection with the federal census. Although each slave was individually numbered, full names were rarely recorded. Organized by owner, each person was listed with age, sex, and race. With these details, along with other facts gathered outside the schedule, it is possible to locate a specific person without actually finding their name.

9. If no federal census is available for the years I am interested in, where should I search?
Remember that colonial, territorial, state, and other censuses may help to fill in the gaps of unavailable Federal census indexes. Many of these indexes are also available in the AIS Census Index collection. You may try the census before or after the year you are searching. Often you will find helpful information you are seeking there.

10. What do I do when I find someone listed in the census indexes?
Remember than an index entry is only a reference to more detailed information found in census records themselves. It is important that researchers consult the actual census records to which these indexes refer.

All available census schedules, from 1790 to 1920, have been microfilmed and are available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., at the National Archives' regional archives in twelve states, at the LDS Family History Library and LDS family history centers throughout North America, at many large libraries, and through microfilm lending companies. Some state and local agencies may have census schedules only for the state or area served.

11.What are some helpful tips when searching the indexes?
Realize that the advanced search capabilities offered on our AIS Census Indexes page offer the researcher a number of powerful search options. Researchers can search by first name only (especially helpful with uncommon first names), by last name only, and by SOUNDEX-coded last name (to account for spelling variation).

The collection allows researchers to search all fifty states at the same time, though you may also choose to restrict your search to a particular U.S. state. The search page also allows you to filter your search to specific counties or even townships or districts within a given county.

The results of a given census search can fill most of your computer's screen. When printing out the results of a search, set your browser to print the page in the "landscape" orientation so important material is not lost off the margin.

12. How accurate is this census data?
Every effort has been made to make this volume as accurate as possible, but some errors or omissions are inevitable in a work of this size. Enumerator errors, spelling errors, or incorrect data may contribute to inaccurate records, but every effort possible has been made to provide a correct listing.

If an entry in the AIS Census Index is found to inaccurately reflect the individual as listed in the census records themselves, Ancestry has provided a Feedback Form where members can submit corrections. These will be reviewed and posted periodically to improve the core index.

13. What are some common census mistakes or pitfalls to be aware of while doing research?
Be aware that due to human error incurred at the time of enumeration and at the compilation of an index, census data may contain misspellings, undercounts, overcounts, false information, missing years and records, and boundary confusions. But be patient, information can be located and your research enhanced even with the problems of census data.

Even when people cooperate fully with census takers and tax collectors, as most do, censuses and tax lists are still subject to data errors. Researchers find misspelled names on almost all census and tax records. Even when the census taker and census informant spoke the same language, it doesn't mean they understood each other. Spelling, even of names, was inconsistent two hundred years ago. William Shakespeare signed his own name with three different spellings. A census taker late for dinner on a long, hot, dusty, summer day may not care whether a name is spelled STUART or STEWART.

Cope with this common problem by being flexible. Consider unusual name spellings as candidates for a name that may be missing from the schedule or index. When a researcher cannot find the correct spelling, he should search using the SOUNDEX feature or other, alternate spellings. If the census taker recorded the name incorrectly, the most likely error was an incorrect vowel.

14. Is there any way to receive census information for schedules completed after 1920?
To protect privacy of living individuals, access to population schedules is restricted for seventy-two years after the census is taken, so they are not available to researchers during that time. The Personal Service Branch, Bureau of the Census, P.O. Box 1545, Jeffersonville, IN 47131, will provide, for a fee, official transcripts of census records from 1930 to 1990. Access is restricted to whomever the information is about, their authorized representatives, or, in the case of deceased persons, their heirs or administrators. Use Form BC-600 to request information.