Türkiye Census: Difference between revisions

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==Online Resources==
==Resources==
The following list is for online records for various towns:
*[https://openaccess.bayburt.edu.tr/xmlui/handle/20.500.12403/2151 Bayburt 1835-1848 Population Registers]. Text in Turkish. <br>
*Çorum 1844 Population Registers. Text in Turkish.<br>
*[http://bamer.ibu.edu.tr/component/k2/item/505-gerede-nufus-defterleri-cilt-i-cilt-ii-1840 Gerede Population Registers Vol I-Volume II 1840]. Text in Turkish.<br>
*[http://acikerisim.uludag.edu.tr/jspui/handle/11452/1961 İnegöl Müslim Population Book Number 01444 (1843)]. Text in Turkish.<br>
*[https://archives.saltresearch.org/handle/123456789/1470 Istanbul Population Rosters 1885 (1300 AH) & 1907 (1322 AH) (saltresearch.org)] -- Beşiktaş 1885 & 1907, Eminönü 1885 & 1907, Fatih 1907, Şişli 1885 & 1907, Üsküdar 1885 & 1907. Text in Turkish.<br>
*[https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezDetay.jsp?id=d5YLL7b9R0Zg6xvMIvS2Jw&no=x7QvhfGoKGOyoILu-E6Axg Kayseri Population Register dated 1288 and with the number 3322 (1831)]. Text in Turkish.<br>


==Population Registers (''Nüfūs Defter'')==
=== Online Resources===
'''Research use:''' These registers establish family groups and individual identity.<br>
*'''1838-1862''' {{FSC|199758|title-id|disp=Census registers, 1838-1862, }}(*); Armenian Apostolic Church. Patriarchate of Istanbul at FamilySearch Catalog - images
'''Reliability:''' Good, though the information may be incomplete.
*'''1861-1915''' {{FSC|199762|title-id|disp=Census registers, 1861-1915, }}(*); Armenian Apostolic Church. Patriarchate of Istanbul at FamilySearch Catalog - images
===How to Find the Records===
*''Ottoman Population, 1830-1914: Demographic and Social Characteristics,'' by Kemal H. Karpat. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 1985. {{WorldCat|11043778|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; '''''Online at:''''' {{FSDL|146247}}
*''[[Türkiye_Census#Online_Resources|See list of resources above.]]
'''Individual Towns'''<br>
*''Arabgir Tarihinin Kaynaklari" by Genç, Vural. Istanbul, Turkey:Kerem Aydınlar Vakfı, 2020''.  {{FSC|4474548|item|disp=FS Catalog book 956.1 H29g }} - Analyzes primary Ottoman archival sources in Arabgir, a district in Malatya, Turkey.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20240727075611/https://openaccess.bayburt.edu.tr/xmlui/handle/20.500.12403/2151 Bayburt 1835-1848 Population Registers] at Internet Archive, archived page - Text in Turkish
*[https://acikerisim.uludag.edu.tr/items/2a0abdbd-20b5-427e-8a4e-7b30a18cf92e İnegöl Müslim Population Book Number 01444 (1843)] at Bursa Uludağ University - Text in Turkish<br>
*[https://archives.saltresearch.org/handle/123456789/1470 Istanbul Population Rosters 1885 (1300 AH) & 1907 (1322 AH)] at SaltResearch.org - Text in Turkish<br>
*[https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezDetay.jsp?id=d5YLL7b9R0Zg6xvMIvS2Jw&no=x7QvhfGoKGOyoILu-E6Axg Kayseri Population Register dated 1288 and with the number 3322 (1831)] at National Thesis Center - Text in Turkish
*''First report on the Diocese of Nicomedia, 1870 : the visitation made by Archimandrite (Vartabed) Boghos Natanian"  by Natanian, Boghos and Melkonian, Ara Stepan. London, England:Gomidas Institute, 2019.  {{FSC|4114026|item|disp=FS Catalog book 956.1 K2n}}


===Historical Background===
The earliest census reports from Turkey date from 1831. It consisted of the registration of the male population of each district (kaza) by a committee and recorded few names. Thereafter, annual updates of population figures were obtained by cumulatively adding births and subtracting deaths as these were registered in each district. It appears that these records generally count number of households or even of persons, but they recorded few names. This early system of population registration functioned fairly regularly until the 1850s after which the system began to deteriorate and break down. <br>


In 1867 the Turkish Council of State and Population Statistics assumed jurisdiction over all population matters. 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. <br>
===Offices to Contact===
'''Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü'''<br>
(General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs)<br>Çamlıca Mahallesi 408. Cadde No:136<br>06200 Yenimahalle<br>Ankara, Türkiye<br>Telephone: 0 312 591 2101<br>Email: [mailto:alo199@nvi.gov.tr alo199@nvi.gov.tr]<br>[https://www.nvi.gov.tr/ Website]<br>[https://www.facebook.com/TCNufus Facebook]<br>
{{Block indent|*[https://nvi.gov.tr/il-mudurlukleri Provincial Population and Citizenship Directorates]}}
{{Block indent|*"Records regarding the lineage and ancestry of individuals can be inquired via e-Government, or if this is not possible, can be requested from any district population directorate."<ref>Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü. "Arşiv Hizmetleri Sıkça Sorulan Sorular." Accessed September 10, 2024. https://nvi.gov.tr/sss-arsiv-hizmetleri.</ref>}}


An initial census survey was conducted throughout the empire in 1876-1878. This first survey is incomplete because of the Ottoman-Russian War. <br>
==Background==
 
'''Population Registers (''Nüfūs Defter'')'''<BR>
In 1881 headcounts and population registration were amalgamated into a single system of record keeping called the population register (nüfus defter). This was somewhat like a system of civil registration, with population registers kept at the local district (kaza) level by the population bureau (sicil-i nüfus). <br>
The earliest census reports from Turkey date back to 1831. It consisted of the male population but few names were recorded. Annual updates of population numbers were obtained by adding births and subtracting deaths registered in each district. These records count number of households or persons, but recorded few names.<br>
<br>
<br>
Another initial population survey was taken 1882-1885. Thereafter the registers were updated by adding new information about births, deaths, and migrations into and out of the district. Supplemental registration of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths were sometimes added to the register itself or sometimes compiled in separate registers. Separate registers were established for Muslims and for members of other religious communities.<br>  
In 1867 the Turkish Council of State and Population Statistics assumed jurisdiction over all population matters. The census laws of 1875 and 1884 established a system where permanent registers were compiled in an initial census survey with vital information be updated as births, marriages, and deaths occurred.<br>
A census survey was conducted throughout the empire in 1876-1878. This survey is incomplete because of the Ottoman-Russian War.<br>
<br>
<br>
Another initial survey was done in 1903-1906. Thereafter new census surveys were periodically done to establish initial permanent registers and vital information was added as births, marriages, and deaths occurred.
A population survey was taken 1882-1885 and another one taken in 1903-1906. The registers were updated by adding new information about births, deaths, and migration into and out of the district. Separate registers were established for Muslims and for members of other religious communities.<br>


===Coverage and Compliance===
=== Types of Censuses ===
'''Time period:''' 1876 to the end of Ottoman rule, probably 1915.<br>
'''Population Registers (''Nüfūs Defter'')'''<BR>
'''Location:''' For areas presently in Türkiye the registers are in provincial (sancak) registration offices. For some regions no longer in Türkiye, 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 (Babakanlk Arivi) (also referred to as the Prime Ministry Archives) or the Sulaymaniye Library in Istanbul.<br>
*The first population register (1876-1881) listed only males.
'''Population coverage:'''
*The first population register (1876-1881) listed only males.  
*About 90%. Women are likely undercounted. Remote areas may not be fully counted.
*About 90%. Women are likely undercounted. Remote areas may not be fully counted.
*1893 census covered the entire empire.
*1893 census covered the entire empire.<br>
 
'''Turkish Council of State of Population Statistics'''<br>
*Türkiye published estimated population figures for 1876-1878.<Br>
*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.<br>


===Information Recorded in the Records===
==Information Recorded in the Records==
The first population register (1876-1881) listed only males. After 1882 the registers list the following:
'''Population Registers (''Nüfūs Defter'')'''<BR>
The first population register (1876-1881) listed only males. After 1882 the registers listed the following:  
*Names of household members including children
*Names of household members including children
*Sex
*Sex
*Birth Date
* Birth Date
*Residence
*Residence
*Age
*Age
*Religion
*Religion
*Craft or occupation
* Craft or occupation
*Marital status
*Marital status
*Marriage date
* Marriage date
*Health
*Health
*Military Status
*Military Status
Line 66: Line 71:
*If deceased, the register provides the death date or crosses out the name of the deceased
*If deceased, the register provides the death date or crosses out the name of the deceased


==Ottoman Cadastral Surveys (''Tahrir Mufassal Defter'')==
'''Turkish Council of State of Population Statistics'''<br>
'''Research use:''' These records establish individual identity and residence; may sometimes establish family groups (at least partial).<br>
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.
'''Reliability:''' Fair
===How to Find the Records===
===Historical Background===
'''Record type:''' 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===
'''Time period:''' 1858-1914.<br>
'''Location:''' Cadastral Department archives (''Tapu ve Kadastro Umum Mudurlugu arşivi'') in Ankara and Istanbul.<br>
'''Population coverage:''' Less than 30%. Women and children are generally not listed and remote localities may not be surveyed.
===Information Recorded in the Records===
*Names of heads of households and of any other taxpayers living in the same households
*Occupation and income
*Sometimes includes names of females and children
 
==Registry of Civil Servants (''Sicill-i Ahval Defterleri'')==
===Coverage and Compliance===
These records are from the former Ottoman territories.
 
===Information Recorded in the Records===
*Name
*Other Titles
*Name of Father
*Tribe (if applicable)
*Religion (if not Muslim)
*Rank
 
==Military Head Tax Register (''Cizye Defter'')==
'''Research use:''' These records provide an early listing of names and probably age and residence of a significant portion of the male population; may provide some lineage linking information if sons are listed with fathers.<br>
'''Reliability:''' Probably good
===How to Find the Records===
===Historical Background===
'''Record type:''' A register of those who paid the military head tax (''cizye''). This tax was levied on all non-Muslims in place of military service. It is not possible to determine specific information about these records without on-site investigation.<Br>
===Coverage and Compliance===
'''Time period:''' 1551-1840.<br>
'''Location:''' National Archives (''Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi'') in Istanbul; also referred to as the Prime Ministry Archives.<br>
'''Population coverage:''' 5 to 6%. Apparently includes only non-Muslims.
===Information Recorded in the Records===
*Lists of cizye payers with accompanying document and receipts
*May include a comprehensive listing of Christian and Jewish males throughout the Ottoman Empire
*Probably provides age and residences
 
There are apparently 418 volumes (the source of this number is unknown).
 
==Turkish Council of State and Population Statistics==
===How to Find the Records===
===Historical Background===
In 1867 the Turkish Council of State assumed jurisdiction over all population matters.<br>
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.<br>
Various political problems delayed the execution of this system although Türkiye published estimated population figures for 1876/1878.<br>
===Coverage and Compliance===
Türkiye published estimated population figures for 1876/1878.<Br>
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==
The Cadastral Surveys (1431 to the 20th century) were a land taxation record, census-like in research usage.
===How to Find the Records===
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. <br>
 
It is not possible at this time to determine the extent to which this record exists and has been preserved. Some 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. None of these records have been acquired by the FamilySearch Library. Access to these records is pretty much limited to those who can visit archives in Türkiye.
===Historical Background===
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).<br>
 
After 1715 the regular practice of compiling these statistics collapsed. Nevertheless there must have been some records made becaus
e the collection of taxes could not have been carried out without population data of some sort, probably incomplete information supplied by communal leaders. <br>
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.<br>
 
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.<br>
 
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.<br>
 
Land surveys, then known as emlak tahriri, continued to be conducted in the 1800s but they were taken separately from the population count.<Br>
 
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.<br>


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==
<references />




[[Category:Türkiye]]
[[Category:Türkiye]]
[[Category:Census records by country|Turkey]]
[[Category:Census records by country|Turkey]]

Latest revision as of 09:54, 20 August 2025

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Resources[edit | edit source]

Online Resources[edit | edit source]

Individual Towns


Offices to Contact[edit | edit source]

Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü
(General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs)
Çamlıca Mahallesi 408. Cadde No:136
06200 Yenimahalle
Ankara, Türkiye
Telephone: 0 312 591 2101
Email: alo199@nvi.gov.tr
Website
Facebook

*"Records regarding the lineage and ancestry of individuals can be inquired via e-Government, or if this is not possible, can be requested from any district population directorate."[1]

Background[edit | edit source]

Population Registers (Nüfūs Defter)
The earliest census reports from Turkey date back to 1831. It consisted of the male population but few names were recorded. Annual updates of population numbers were obtained by adding births and subtracting deaths registered in each district. These records count number of households or persons, but recorded few names.

In 1867 the Turkish Council of State and Population Statistics assumed jurisdiction over all population matters. The census laws of 1875 and 1884 established a system where permanent registers were compiled in an initial census survey with vital information be updated as births, marriages, and deaths occurred.
A census survey was conducted throughout the empire in 1876-1878. This survey is incomplete because of the Ottoman-Russian War.

A population survey was taken 1882-1885 and another one taken in 1903-1906. The registers were updated by adding new information about births, deaths, and migration into and out of the district. Separate registers were established for Muslims and for members of other religious communities.

Types of Censuses[edit | edit source]

Population Registers (Nüfūs Defter)

  • The first population register (1876-1881) listed only males.
  • About 90%. Women are likely undercounted. Remote areas may not be fully counted.
  • 1893 census covered the entire empire.

Turkish Council of State of Population Statistics

  • Türkiye 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[edit | edit source]

Population Registers (Nüfūs Defter)
The first population register (1876-1881) listed only males. After 1882 the registers listed the following:

  • 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

Turkish Council of State of Population Statistics
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.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü. "Arşiv Hizmetleri Sıkça Sorulan Sorular." Accessed September 10, 2024. https://nvi.gov.tr/sss-arsiv-hizmetleri.

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