Ottoman Empire Census
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Resources
Online Resources
- 1883-1917 Nüfus Registers at FamilySearch - index & images; in Arabic and dates in Ottoman Rumi calendar
- 1885 & 1907 Istanbul Population Rosters 1885 (1300 AH) & 1907 (1322 AH) (saltresearch.org) - index & images; Beşiktaş 1885 & 1907, Eminönü 1885 & 1907, Fatih 1907, Şişli 1885 & 1907, Üsküdar 1885 & 1907; in Turkish.
Types of Censuses
Population Registers [Nüfūs Defter]
Resources
- 1883-1917 Nüfus Registers at FamilySearch - index & images; in Arabic and dates in Ottoman Rumi calendar
Names are currently searchable in Arabic and dates are displayed using the Ottoman Rumi calendar. The Turkish website Türk Tarih Kurumu can be used to convert dates from the Rumi to the Gregorian calendar.
The original records are in provincial (sancak) registration offices. For some regions no longer in Turkey, the registers are either centralized in an archive of the present country (e.g. Israel), or may be partially or completely in a Turkish archive, possibly the National Archives [Babakanlk Arivi] (also referred to as the Prime Ministry Archives) or the Sulaymaniye Library in Istanbul. These records cover about 90% of the population, although, women are likely undercounted. Remote areas may not be fully counted.
Background
These Ottoman census registers were taken in 10 districts in what is now Palestine/Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, and many individuals recorded in the registers were born elsewhere in the Middle East.
The earliest census reports from Turkey date from 1831.[1] But these generally count number of households or even of persons, but they recorded few names. The census laws of 1875 and 1884 established a system of civil registration, with the population registers kept at the local district [kaza] level, to update the census by adding new information about births, marriages, and deaths. Permanent registers were compiled in an initial census survey; thereafter vital information was added as births, marriages, and deaths occurred. Initial census surveys were conducted throughout the empire in 1876-1878, 1882-1885, and again in 1903-1906. The first survey is incomplete because of the Ottoman-Russian War. Supplemental registration of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths were sometimes added to the register itself or sometimes compiled in separate registers.
Coverage and Compliance
Records start in 1876 and go to the end of Ottoman rule, probably 1915. The 1893 census covered the entire empire. The records cover areas presently in Turkey.
Information Recorded in the Records
The first population register (1876-1881) listed only males. After 1882 the registers list the names of household members including children; sex; birth date; residence; age; religion; craft or occupation; marital status, marriage date; health; military status; patrilineal relations. If deceased, the register provides the death date or crosses out the name of the deceased.
Ottoman Cadastral Surveys [Tahrir Mufassal Defter]
Resources
The records are located in the Cadastral Department archives [Tapu ve Kadastro Umum Mudurlugu arşivi] in Ankara and Istanbul.
Background
These records establish individual identity and residence and may sometimes establish family groups. The Ottoman Turks conducted extensive surveys of land and population for taxation purposes as early as the 1500s. These early surveys are of great value to demographers to estimate the size and character of the population in various regions of the Ottoman empire, but they contain no names and are not of significant genealogical value. After the Crimean war a cadastral (land) survey was conducted to reestablish the tax base of the empire. This and later surveys included names of head of households. This survey was conducted in 1858-1859 in the provinces [sancaks] of Bursa and Janina, then empire wide in 1860.
Coverage and Compliance
These records start in 1858 and go to 1914. These records cover less than 30% of the population with women and children generally not listed.
Information Recorded in the Records
Information includes: names of heads of households and of any other taxpayers living in the same households; occupation and income; sometimes include names of females and children.
Military Head Tax Register [Cizye Defter]
Resources
The records are located at the National Archives [Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi] in Istanbul; also referred to as the Prime Ministry Archives.
Background
These records provide an early listing of names and probably age and residence of a significant portion of the male population. They may provide some lineage linking information if sons are listed with fathers. These records are a register of those who paid the military head tax [cizye]. This tax was levied on all non-Muslims in place of military service.
Coverage and Compliance
These records cover 1551 to 1840. Population coverage is very small, about 5% to 6% and may only include only non-Muslims.
Information Recorded in the Records
Information includes lists of cizye payers with accompanying documents and receipts. The lists may also include a comprehensive listing of Christian and Jewish males throughout the Ottoman Empire; probably providing ages and residences.
Turkish Council of State and Population Statistics
Resources
Background
In 1867 the Turkish Council of State assumed jurisdiction over all population matters. In 1874 the Council introduced a law regarding census taking and the establishment of an accurate, permanent registration system covering men, women, and children. This new system merged the headcounts and population registration into a single system. The new system was based on three types of registers; the basic register [esas defter] listing all males with a second column listing the family members; the summary [icmal] listing the total number of people living in each town village or town quarter based on data from the town registers; and the daily events register [yevmiye vukuat] which was to include records of births, marriages, deaths, and migrations into or out of each district. Various political problems delayed the execution of this system although Turkey published estimated population figures for 1876/1878.
Coverage and Compliance
Turkey published estimated population figures for 1876/1878. Regulations of 1881 and 1878 and the law of 1874 were finally implemented in a census which started in 1881 and was completed in 1883.
Information Recorded in the Records
The 1881/1883 census used several ethnic-religious categories for the Christian population, but all the Muslims continued to be counted as one homogeneous group despite the ethnic and linguistic differences among them.
Ottoman Detailed Cadastral Surveys
Resources
These and other cadastral surveys have been published by Turkish archives (Basvekâlet Arsivi and Tapu ve Kadastro umum müdürlügünün in Ankara), including the surveys of 1485, 1497, 1534, 1536, 1571, 1582, and 1591.
Some records are kept at the Cadastral Department archives [Tapu ve Kadastro Umum Mudurlugu arsivi] in Ankara and Istanbul. Others may be kept at local and provincial archives.
Background
The Cadastral Surveys (1431 to the 20th century) were a land taxation record, census-like in research usage. The Cadastral Surveys (1431 to the 20th century) were a land taxation record, census-like in research usage. The Ottoman Turks conducted an extensive survey of land and population in 1431-1432 for taxation purposes. The resulting records are of two types, detailed [mufassal] and abridged [icmal]. These surveys show a continuing preoccupation with the size of cultivable land and with their revenue. The purpose of these early Ottoman population counts was not to produce an accurate record of the total number of people in the realm. Rather, they were carried out for tax purposes, and their results were recorded in land deed registers (tapu defteri).
After 1715 the regular practice of compiling these statistics collapsed. Nevertheless there must have been some records made because the collection of taxes could not have been carried out without population data of some sort, probably incomplete information supplied by communal leaders.
In the nineteenth century new considerations dictated a new type of survey and something much more like a true census was introduced in 1830, Census and Population Registers.
After the Crimean war a cadastral (land) survey was conducted to reestablish the tax base of the empire. This survey was conducted in 1858-1859 in the provinces [sancaks] of Bursa and Janina, then empire wide in 1860.
Coverage and Compliance
Census-like land surveys (termed yoklamas) were conducted in 1596, 1606, 1672, 1691, 1694, 1698, and 1715.
Some sources indicate that the early cadastral surveys generally do not contain names and they are likely not of significant genealogical value. Other sources indicate that the fifteenth and sixteenth century tahrirs involved the registration of adult males—chiefly household heads as taxpayers but also bachelors and others. In either case, these early surveys are of great value to demographers to estimate the size and character of the population in various regions of the Ottoman empire.
Land surveys, then known as emlak tahriri, continued to be conducted in the 1800s but they were taken separately from the population count.
After the Crimean war a cadastral (land) survey was conducted to reestablish the tax base of the empire. This survey was conducted in 1858-1859 in the provinces [sancaks] of Bursa and Janina, then empire wide in 1860. These and later surveys definitely included names of head of households. Nevertheless, these surveys included, at best, less than 30% of the population. Women and children were rarely listed and remote localities may not have been surveyed.
Information Recorded in the Registers
Specific information is not available. Early surveys may list names of landholders. Surveys of the 1600s through 1800 provide considerable information about land and revenues but likely contain little information about the inhabitants. After 1800 the surveys provide names of heads of households and of any other taxpayers living in the same household; occupation and income; some from the 1800s may include names of females and children.
After the Crimean war a cadastral (land) survey was conducted to reestablish the tax base of the empire. This survey was conducted in 1858-1859 in the provinces [sancaks] of Bursa and Janina, then empire wide in 1860. These and later surveys definitely included names of head of households. Neverthelss, these surveys included, at best, less than 30% of the population. Women and children were rarely listed and remote localities may not have been surveyed.
References
- ↑ Military head tax registers (a quasi census) date from 1551.