All Surrey Libraries branches will be closed Friday, April 18 for Good Friday and Monday, April 21 for Easter Monday. All branches are open Saturday, April 19, and all branches, except Port Kells, are open on Sunday, April 20.
Census Records - Ontario
General
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.
Remember that Ontario was one of the first four provinces that became our country of Canada in 1867. The area that is now Ontario was known as Upper Canada from 1792 – 1840, then Canada West from 1841 to 1867, and this will be reflected in the census entries for the applicable years.
Online
Census returns Ontario are available online and searchable by surname. There are many census resources available for Ontario. Of note, the most recent census that includes Ontario is 1921.
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: 1901, 1906, 1911 and partial 1851 census available
- Library & Archives Canada: Information centre for all Canadian censuses (1640-1926) and links to searchable databases.
Microfilm
Microfilms are available at our Family History department for all federal census records taken in Ontario, from the early 1800s to 1911. Census films are not organized by name, but by place - you must know the geographical location of your ancestors to use microfilm. Various print finding aids will help you identify the microfilm you need. Please ask staff for assistance to locate these items.
- 1901: Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm, 1901
- 1911: Canada Census Finding Aid.
- 1666-1891 Census: There are several copies of a Finding Aid called Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm 1666-1891, which includes Ontario. The Aid is organized by province and district with relevant microfilm numbers noted for each location.
The census/directory shelving unit also includes numerous print transcriptions and indexes for Ontario Census records, primarily for the earlier years. Most are in plastic bins labelled by census year and county. These are easy to use and could help if you encounter difficulties with online transcription errors – e.g. perhaps these transcribers offer a different interpretation of spelling.