Census Records - Manitoba
Census returns are a very useful resource for family historians. You can learn a variety of information about your family, where they were born and where they lived, what they did for a living, their religion, and much more.
Online
When searching, remember that Manitoba joined Confederation in 1870; prior to that it was part of the Northwest Territories. The first Canadian census covering the area that is now Manitoba was taken in 1870. Census returns for the Red River area were takin in 1831, 1835, 1833, 1846, and 1856.
Below is a list of websites where you can find Canadian Census records.
- FamilySearch.org:
- The 1921 census is not available on this site.
- Ancestry Library Edition available at all branches of Surrey Libraries
- Automated Genealogy
- Library & Archives Canada:
- Information centre for all Canadian censuses (1640-1926) and links to searchable databases.
- 1666-1891 Census:
There are several copies of a Finding Aid called Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm 1666-1891, This book is organized by province, and then town or county with the matching microfilm numbers noted for each location. (Note only some of these are available online; some earlier censuses are only available on microfilm.) Prairie Census 1906, 1916, 1926
These census records are mostly available online. They are special census records released for the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. There is a binder marked “1916 Census,” located on the census book shelves near the print directories, which summarizes the census districts and sub-districts by name.To find the corresponding microfilm number for a certain location, see the list in the binder of film numbers and areas covered on each reel.
- 1901-1921 Census:
These Census records are mostly available online, but the Cloverdale Family History Branch does hold some extracts in print. Please ask a Family History staff person for assistance.
Census Indexes: If you prefer to view Census Records in print, rather than online or on microfilm, our Family History department has some finding aids and census extracts. To find a census in print, please check our library catalogue with the keyword search “Canadian Census.” Some examples:
Kalmakoff, Jonathan J. 1918 Census of Independent Doukhobors: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta & British Columbia. Library call number: 929.3712 KAL 2002 [Filed with other census indexes next to the census finding aids]
Morin, Gail. Censuses of the Red River Settlement: an index to the censuses for the years 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1833, 1835, 1838, 1840 & 1843. Library call number: 929.37127 MOR 1998
Jonasson, Erik (ed.) Surname Index to the 1870 census of Manitoba and Red River. Library call number: 929.37127 JON 1981