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Adding info about the United States
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*Count potential military conscripts. | *Count potential military conscripts. | ||
The enumeration can document an entire population or only specific classes of persons such as males, property owners, or Jews. However, there are few censuses that were taken specifically of Jews. | The enumeration can document an entire population or only specific classes of persons such as males, property owners, or Jews. However, there are few censuses that were taken specifically of Jews. | ||
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, territory, province, state, county, city, or congregation. Census records usually list a large segment of the population and include names; relationships; ages; birthplaces; marital status; and occupations. Other information may be listed such as religion, ethnicity, and native language. | A census is a count and description of the population of a country, territory, province, state, county, city, or congregation. Census records usually list a large segment of the population and include names; relationships; ages; birthplaces; marital status; and occupations. Other information may be listed such as religion, ethnicity, and native language. | ||
When using census records, consider the following: | When using census records, consider the following: | ||
*In countries that have primary sources, such as church records and civil registration or vital records, census records should be used to supplement information in these records | |||
In countries that have primary sources, such as church records and civil registration or vital records, census records should be used to supplement information in these records | *In countries where civil registration or vital records begin late and other records are lacking, census returns may be the only source of information available for specific time periods. | ||
In countries where civil registration or vital records begin late and other records are lacking, census returns may be the only source of information available for specific time periods. | |||
Other records were made that are similar in intent to census records, such as population registrations, communion lists, tax lists, and voter registration lists (see Jewish Records in Other Denominations and Jewish Population). The information in some of these records may come from official census records. Revision lists from the Russian Empire are sometimes referred to as census records; see Jewish Taxation. | Other records were made that are similar in intent to census records, such as population registrations, communion lists, tax lists, and voter registration lists (see Jewish Records in Other Denominations and Jewish Population). The information in some of these records may come from official census records. Revision lists from the Russian Empire are sometimes referred to as census records; see Jewish Taxation. | ||
'''National | ====Types of Censuses==== | ||
'''National'''. Most nations periodically take a census of their population. For example, the United States has taken a national census every decade since 1790. The Russian Empire, on the other hand, has only one national census (1897). | |||
Edlund, Thomas Kent. The German Minority Census of 1939, An Introduction and Register. Teaneck, NJ: Avotaynu, Inc., 1996. (FHL book 943 X22e.) | '''Censuses of Jews'''. In contrast, Germany took a census of Jews in 1939. Microfilm copies of these census records are found at the Family History Library on 292 reels, 130 of which are for the city of Berlin. A register showing what films cover which parts of the German empire is: | ||
*Edlund, Thomas Kent. The German Minority Census of 1939, An Introduction and Register. Teaneck, NJ: Avotaynu, Inc., 1996. (FHL book 943 X22e.) | |||
In addition to censuses of the general population, Hungary also took a special national census of Jews in 1848: | In addition to censuses of the general population, Hungary also took a special national census of Jews in 1848: | ||
*Conscriptio Judaeorum, 1848 (Census of Jews, 1848). Budapest: Magyar Országos levéltárban történt, 1970. (FHL film 0719823–0719828, 0754368 item 2.) This census gives the name, age, and specific birthplace of all members of the household. The birthplace is particularly useful in tracing families that have moved from another area or country. | |||
'''Provincial'''. Some censuses, both general and Jewish specific, were carried out by province or other region. The following is an example: | |||
*Dénombrements nomitatifs des Juifs en Alsace, 1784 (Enumeration by Name of the Jews in Alsace, 1784). Colmar: Jean-Henri Decker, 1785. (FHL film 1069535 item 3.) Includes names all the Jews of Alsace-Loraine (Elsaß-Lothringen [German] or Bas-Rhin [French]) in the year 1784 and 1785 by town. Has an index to towns with the number of Jews in each town in the region. | |||
'''Local'''. In some cases a census was taken on a local level. An example is the census of the inhabitants of the city of Debreczen, Hungary, taken in 1870. It includes a separate Jewish conscription list: | |||
*Népszámlálás 1868–1870 (Censuses, 1868–1870). Budapest: Magyar Országos Levéltárban történt, 1970. (FHL films 0722259–0722302.) This census is arranged by house numbers and includes surrounding communities. A conscription list of Jewish males is on films 0722262–0722263. | |||
Another example is an 1814 census of Jews for many individual towns in Denmark. These are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under each town. The Jewish census of the town of Skælskør, Sorø, Denmark on FHL film 0041007 is representative. | |||
====United States==== | |||
In the United States, search the census for all years the Jewish ancestor was in the country. Search both national and state censuses. It is important to search for variant spellings of the given name and surname. Check the following books for alternate spellings: | |||
*Beider, Alexander. ''A dictionary of Jewish surnames from the Russian Empire''. Bergenfield, New Jersey: Avotaynu, 2008. (FHL call no. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1478954 947 D46]) | |||
*Beider, Alexander. ''A dictionary of Jewish surnames from the Kingdom of Poland''. Teaneck, New Jersey: Avotaynu, 1996. (FHL call no. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/773720 943.8 D46]) | |||
*Beider, Alexander. ''A dictionary of Jewish surnames from Galicia''. Bergenfield, New Jersey: Avotaynu, 2004. (FHL call no. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1187733 943.86 D46]) | |||
If the ancestor cannot be found in the index, check the City Directory. If they are in the directory, locate someone with an address near the ancestor. Then find that person in the census. The ancestor should be located on the same page or within a few pages from this neighbor. | |||
=== Census Indexes === | === Census Indexes === | ||
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The Family History Library has an extensive collection of census records and indexes from around the world. In addition to the ones previously mentioned, its holdings include all available federal (United States) census returns prior to 1920 and many censuses taken by individual states, pre-1911 censuses of Canada, pre-1901 censuses of Great Britain, and census returns for several countries in Latin America and Europe. Check for these records in the FamilySearch Catalog using the Locality Search and Keyword Search. | The Family History Library has an extensive collection of census records and indexes from around the world. In addition to the ones previously mentioned, its holdings include all available federal (United States) census returns prior to 1920 and many censuses taken by individual states, pre-1911 censuses of Canada, pre-1901 censuses of Great Britain, and census returns for several countries in Latin America and Europe. Check for these records in the FamilySearch Catalog using the Locality Search and Keyword Search. | ||
'''Canadian Jewish Census'''. There are books, films, and fiche that list the Jewish people in the Canadian Census for the years 1851-1901. Check the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/search FamilySearch Catalog]. | |||
Also search the Wiki for "Census" and the country or state where your ancestor lived. | Also search the Wiki for "Census" and the country or state where your ancestor lived. | ||