Canada Record Finder

Canada Record Selection Table

This table can help you decide which records to search in Canada. It is most helpful for post-1800 research.

1. In column 1 find the goal you selected.

2. In column 2 find the types of records most likely to have the information you need.

3. In column 3 find additional record types that may be useful.

4. Then look for the record type you need in the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog.

Note: Records of previous research (genealogy, biography, history, periodicals, and societies) are useful for most goals, but are not listed unless they are especially helpful.

Note: "Notarial Records" only apply to research in the Province of Quebec.

What you are looking for:	Try these records first:	Other useful records:
Age	Census, Vital Records, Church Records	Cemeteries, Military Records, Emigration and Immigration
Birth date	Vital Records, Church Records	Cemeteries, Newspapers, Census
Birthplace	Vital Records, Church Records	Census, Newspapers
City or parish of foreign birth	Church Records, Naturalization and Citizenship,Genealogy, Biography,	Vital Records, Newspapers, History, Emigration and Immigration
Country of foreign birth	Emigration and Immigration, Census, Naturalization and Citizenship	Church Records, Military Records, Vital Records, Newspapers
Death	Vital Records, Cemeteries, Probate Records, Church Records	Notarial Records, Newspapers, Military Records, Obituaries
Ethnic background	Minorities, Native Races, Societies, Church Records, Census	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship
French terms	Language and Languages	Church Records, Vital Records, Notarial Records
Historical background	History, Historical Geography, Periodicals	Emigration and Immigration, Minorities
Immigration date	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship	Census, Newspapers, Biography, Genealogy, Land and Property
Living relatives (and adoptions)	Genealogy, Directories, Court Records,Obituaries	Census, Biography, Societies, Church Records, Probate Records
Maiden name, alias names	Vital Records, Church Records, Newspapers	Cemeteries; Military Records; Probate Records; Names, Personal
Marriage	Vital Records, Church Records, Notarial Records, Census, Newspapers	Military Records, Probate Records, Land and Property, Cemeteries
Occupation	Census, Directories, Emigration and Immigration, Vital Records	Newspapers, Biography, Court Records, Business Records and Commerce
Parents, children, and other family members	Vital Records, Church Records, Census, Probate Records, Genealogy	Obituaries, Emigration and Immigration, Notarial Records, Newspapers, Cemeteries
Physical description	Military Records, Biography	Vital Records, Genealogy, Emigration and Immigration
Place-finding aids	Gazetteers, Maps, History	Historical Geography, Periodicals
Places of residence	Census, Land and Property	History, Military Records
Place (town) of residence when you know only the province	Census (indexed), Genealogy, Military Records, Vital Records, Land and Property	Biography, Probate Records, History, Emigration and Immigration, Directories
Political subdivision origins and boundaries	Gazetteers, Maps, Directories	History, Historical Geography
Previous research (compiled genealogy)	Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies	History, Biography
Record-finding aids	Archives and Libraries, Societies	Periodicals
Religion	Census, Church Records, History	Biography, Cemeteries, Obituaries
Social activities	History, Biography, Newspapers, Societies	Cemeteries,Directories, Obituaries