Your female ancestors are notoriously difficult to find, because of name changes and being absorbed into her husband's identity. This is particularly true of those ancestors who lived before 1850...
Category - Census Research
A Look at the 1860 US Federal Census
The 1860 US federal census is the last one taken before the Civil War. It is slightly more descriptive than previous censuses, but not as descriptive as post-Civil War ones. Here are some of the...
An In-Depth Look at the 1870 US Federal Census
The 1870 US federal census is a valuable tool for genealogists looking for their families in America just after the Civil War. It is a census of a few important firsts, as well as one of a...
A Quick Guide to Using the US Census for Genealogy
Are you a genealogy beginner? If so, have you used the US census yet? Have you ever heard of the US census? This is a brief outline of what the census is and what it can do for you in your...
The 1880 US Federal Census: A Closer Look
The 1880 US census was the first of its kind in several ways. The most important is that it was the first to ask a number of highly detailed questions about each individual person who was enumerated...
Everything You Need to Know About the 1890 US Federal Census
The 1890 census is famous for not being here for genealogists to use. At least, most of it is not available. There are a few fragments that still exist. If you are lucky enough to have ancestors in...
Exploring the 1910 US Federal Census
The 1910 US Federal Census is an invaluable genealogical research tool. Whether you have used it before, or are just getting to it for the first time, it has some hidden gems in it that can add a lot...
Diving Deep into the 1920 Census
If you are a veteran of using the 1920 US federal census or are just using it for the first time, there is hidden information in there that may prove useful to you as a genealogist. Here are some of...
Getting the Most Out of the 1930 US Census
The 1930 census has some hidden gems in it. If you have used it before, or if you are new to it, there is information there that you may miss if you don’t comb the census with a fine-toothed...
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the 1940 Census
Have you used the 1940 census in your family history research? If you have been doing genealogy for a while, you probably have used it many times. Whether you are experienced with it or are new...
The 1900 US Federal Census: A Closer Look
The 1900 US federal census is one of the most beloved and richly detailed of any of the US census records. It provides a treasure trove of valuable information that you can use to fill in some...
A Closer Look at the 1790 US Federal Census
The 1790 US federal census was the first one to be conducted in the brand new United States of America. Just seven years off of the end of the Revolutionary War, this census was an ambitious project...
A Closer Look at the 1800 US Federal Census
The 1800 US federal census was the second of its kind taken in the brand new United States. John Adams was US President at the time, and was only our second one. The Louisiana Purchase hadn’t even...
A Closer Look at the 1810 US Federal Census
The 1810 US federal census is a valuable genealogical document. While it is simpler and more basic than later censuses, it is still a useful and important research tool for those conducting research...
The 1820 US Federal Census — A Closer Look
The 1820 US federal census is the last one to not use pre-printed forms. Because enumerators often drew their own columns, it can sometimes be challenging to interpret the results of this census...
A Closer Look at the 1830 US Federal Census
The 1830 US federal census is a unique snapshot in time, showing us what the country and our relatives looked like at that one moment in time. Despite not recording the names of every family...
A Look at the 1840 US Federal Census
The 1840 US federal census is the sixth one done by the United States, and the first one that has most of the pages still available for use by researchers today. It is a far more valuable research...
A Look at the 1850 US Federal Census
The 1850 US federal census was a historic one in a few important ways. The most important and obvious is that it is the first one to record the names of everyone in a household, not just the head of...
Search Tricks for Locating Your Ancestors in an Online Census
If your ancestors are not easily found in the census, it doesn't mean they aren't there. The beauty of searchable online indexes is that you can search in a variety of ways to find your ancestors and...
5 Frequently Asked Questions About Census Records
The U.S. Federal Census is one of the best known tools for researching your family history. Whether you are a novice or a veteran of using the census, there is always more to learn about this...
The Secrets of the 1840 Census, Revealed
Have you explored the 1840 U.S. federal census in your genealogy research? If not, you should. Here is a list of amazing family history information it contains.
What is Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland?
Are you familiar with Griffith's Valuation of Ireland? If not, now is the time to become acquainted with it. It is invaluable in mid-19th century Irish research.
What Happened to the 1890 Census, and What You Can Use to Fill in Its Blanks
What happened to the 1890 census? It may be gone, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on 20 years of your ancestors' lives. Use these records instead.
3 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Census Research
Have you used the census in your genealogy? Even if you have, go back & look at it again. It has a lot to reveal. Here are 3 ways to get the most out of it.
European Censuses
Do you have ancestors who lived in Europe and you want to find out more about them? Consider researching European censuses. Here's what you need to know.
5 Substitutions for the 1890 Census
Most of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census was destroyed in a fire in the 1930's. This leaves a large, annoying 20-year gap in census records for genealogists.
Finding Unnamed Ancestors on the 1790-1840 Censuses
The 1790-1840 census records only listed heads of household by name. However, that does not mean you can't put together a list of who was in the household. You just look at other clues like these.
Genealogy Data: Frequently Occurring Surnames from Census 2000
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes a list of frequently occurring surnames from Census 2000. (Note: this data is from the 2000 census.) You can look through the list below of surnames that may show how...