Estonia Census: Difference between revisions

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Census

Online Resources[edit | edit source]

1784-1944 Estonia, Census, Tax and House Lists, 1784 to 1944 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
1826-1916 Estonia, Soul List Registers, 1826-1916 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
History Of Population Censuses ii Estonia

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Censuses have been enumerated in Estonia in 1881, 1897, 1922, 1934, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989, 2000, 2011. The 1897 census was conducted by Imperial Russia. General information about these censuses can be found at Statistics Estonia.

1897 Russian Empire Census[edit | edit source]

The 1897 Russian Imperial Census was the first and only census carried out in the Russian Empire. The census enumerated the entire population of the Empire (excluding Finland) and was designed to gather population and statistical data. The census was enumerated in Estonia on January 28, 1897. Two copies were created, one kept locally and the other sent into the Ministry. The Ministry copy was eventually destroyed, but the local copy has survived in some regional archives and at the Estonian Historical Archive in Tartu. About 70% of the population can be found in the census.

There is a separate census list for each household consisting of a form cover page and the census return which lists the names of the members of the household. There were three types of forms: (Form А (A), Б (B) or В (V). Form A (A) enumerated peasants residing on farms; Form Б (B) listed landed estates and form В (V) was for city dwellers, military, clergy, etc.

The first page of each form notes state (gubernia), county (uyezd), district (volost), village, name of head of household, number of dwellings, number of souls found on day census was taken (divided by sex), number living there permanently, how many people are there who are not peasants, those who live there but are not official residents, and signature of person who compiled the form.

The second page includes the census return form which contains a wealth of information - both genealogical and personal details! The census recorded:

name (given name, patronymic, and surname)
note if blind, deaf, mute, or insane
relationship to head of household
age
marital status
social rank
birthplace
where registered
residence
note if person is absent at the time of the census
native tongue
literacy
place of study (past or current)
main profession
additional profession
military status

A second census was anticipated in 1914 but World War I intervened.

Accessing the Records[edit | edit source]

SAAGA[edit | edit source]

Some census records from what is now modern day Estonia are now preserved in the Latvian State Historical Archives; however, they are accessible via the Estonian site SAAGA. Census returns are available for Tartu and Saaremaa.

Raduraksti[edit | edit source]

Raduraksti, the Latvian State Historical Archives digital reading room has 1897 census records for locations within Tartu County, Võru County, Pärnu county, and Arnsburg.

Reading the Records[edit | edit source]

For help reading the 1897 Census, see the 1897 Census "How to" Guide.

References[edit | edit source]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''[[Estonia Genealogy|Estonia]]''
+{{CountrySidebar
+|Country=Estonia
+|Name=Estonia
+|Type=Topic
+|Topic Type=Records
+|Records=Census
+|Rating=Standardized
+}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[Estonia Genealogy|Estonia]]
+| link2=
+| link3=
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Estonia Census|Census]]
+}}
-== Revision lists ==
+== Online Resources ==
+*'''1784-1944''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61573/ Estonia, Census, Tax and House Lists, 1784 to 1944] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1826-1916''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62419/ Estonia, Soul List Registers, 1826-1916] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*[https://vana.stat.ee/62931 History Of Population Censuses ii Estonia]
-Research use: Excellent source for identifying family groups.  Due to the difficulty in using metrical books, the revision list provides the most information for the least amount of effort.  The original returns are bound in volumes that are sometimes three to four feet thick, making them very difficult to handle except on microfilm.
+== Introduction ==
+Censuses have been enumerated in Estonia in 1881, 1897, 1922, 1934, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989, 2000, 2011. The 1897 census was conducted by Imperial Russia. General information about these censuses can be found at [https://vana.stat.ee/26384 Statistics Estonia].
-Record type: Population enumeration for the purpose of assessing a poll tax and identifying those for conscription into the military.
+== 1897 Russian Empire Census ==
+The 1897 Russian Imperial Census was the first and only census carried out in the Russian Empire. The census enumerated the entire population of the Empire (excluding Finland) and was designed to gather population and statistical data. The census was enumerated in Estonia on January 28, 1897. Two copies were created, one kept locally and the other sent into the Ministry. The Ministry copy was eventually destroyed, but the local copy has survived in some regional archives and at the Estonian Historical Archive in Tartu. About 70% of the population can be found in the census.
-General: Ten official revisions were conducted in the Russian Empire through 1859.  Enumeration began in Estonia, after it was annexed by that empire, with the fourth (1782-1787), and continued with the fifth revision (1795-1808), sixth (1811), seventh (1815-1825), eighth (1833-1835), ninth (1850-1852) and tenth (1857-1859).  There are some earlier revisions for portions of Livland that came under Russian rule at the beginning of the 18th century and were incorporated into Estonia.  One copy was kept in the county treasury (uezdnoe kaznacheistvo) and the other was sent to the provincial fiscal chamber (gubernskaiia kazennaia palata).  Separate lists were kept for the different social classes such as merchants (kupechestvo), townspeople (meshchane) and peasants (krestiane).  Revision lists (skazski) are filed and bound by districts and large cities.
+There is a separate census list for each household consisting of a form cover page and the census return which lists the names of the members of the household. There were three types of forms: (Form ''А'' (A), ''Б'' (B) or ''В'' (V). Form ''A'' (A) enumerated peasants residing on farms; Form ''Б'' (B) listed landed estates and form ''В'' (V) was for city dwellers, military, clergy, etc.
-Time period: 1782-1859.
+The first page of each form notes state (gubernia), county (uyezd), district (volost), village, name of head of household, number of dwellings, number of souls found on day census was taken (divided by sex), number living there permanently, how many people are there who are not peasants, those who live there but are not official residents, and signature of person who compiled the form.
-Contents: Revision number of household, name, parentage, age, age at time of previous revision, sex, nationality, social rank, relationship to household head, and change of status since the last revision of all those in the household.  Females were not recorded in the sixth revision.  The fifth revision included information on the parentage of the females but this was dropped as of the sixth revision.  Sometimes the lists are accompanied by supporting documentation.
+The second page includes the census return form which contains a wealth of information - both genealogical and personal details! The census recorded:
+{{columns-list|2|
+* name (given name, patronymic, and surname)
+*note if blind, deaf, mute, or insane
+* relationship to head of household
+*age
+*marital status
+*social rank
+*birthplace
+*where registered
+*residence
+*note if person is absent at the time of the census
+* native tongue
+*literacy
+*place of study (past or current)
+*main profession
+*additional profession
+*military status
+}}
+A second census was anticipated in 1914 but World War I intervened.
-Location: State Historical Archive in Tartu.
+== Accessing the Records ==
-Percentage in Family History Library: 100%.
+=== SAAGA ===
+Some census records from what is now modern day Estonia are now preserved in the Latvian State Historical Archives; however, they are accessible via the Estonian site [https://www.ra.ee/dgs/explorer.php?tid=257&tbn=1&lev=yes&hash=db4f796c017bca5d9d775f047106877f SAAGA]. Census returns are available for Tartu and Saaremaa.
-Population coverage: 75% coverage.  This record was not compiled for non-taxed classes: the nobility, high officials, clergy, military, and foreigners.  Also, many people evaded enumeration.
+=== Raduraksti ===
+[https://raduraksti.arhivi.lv/collections/1:8 Raduraksti,] the Latvian State Historical Archives digital reading room has 1897 census records for locations within Tartu County, Võru County, Pärnu county, and Arnsburg.
-Reliability: They are not completely reliable because of efforts to evade taxation or conscription by avoiding correct enumeration.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Estonia,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1994-2002.</ref>
+=== Reading the Records ===
+For help reading the 1897 Census, see the [[Estonia "How to" Guides|1897 Census "How to" Guide.]]
-== References  ==
+== References ==
+{{reflist}}
-{{reflist}}
 [[Category:Estonia]]
+[[Category:Census records by country|Estonia]]