Cyprus Census: Difference between revisions

Record type: A census-like register of households. The Ottoman Empire began a system of periodic registration of the population in 1829-1831 primarily for tax collection purposes. These generally counted the number of households or even of persons, but apparently recorded only property owner names and property specifics. The Ottomans conducted an empire wide survey in 1860. It is not clear whether this and subsequent surveys included names of individuals. Ottoman census laws of 1875 began a system of regular population registers of males, heads of households, etc., which likely included names and specific descriptive information. Cyprus passed to British control in 1878 before the Ottomans enacted additional laws regarding population surveys. Further evaluation is needed to determine whether Cyprus has records as are found in other lands of the Ottoman Empire. Population registration was somewhat like a system of civil registration, with population registers 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, and again in 1882-1885, after Cyprus was no longer governed by Türkiye. Supplemental registration of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths were sometimes added to the census/population register itself or sometimes compiled in separate registers after that date.