As you look for your family in the U.S. censuses, you might want to know what kind of information each census provides. Since the first U.S. census in 1790, the recorded information has varied widely. But almost all of the information can help build your understanding of your family’s history and origins.

To begin tracing your family, start with the most recent census and move backward in time. You’ll get a glimpse into what life was like for your relatives and how they changed over time. The information you find can also lead you to other records that will reveal even more of their lives to you.

Start searching for your family in the 1950 census or 1940 census.

1930 and 1940 censuses

The 1940 census includes standard questions about names, ages, and residences. The Great Depression influenced the questions that appear on the form. Respondents were asked whether they were unemployed and how much income they earned. They were also asked where they were living in 1935.

The following image gives you an idea of what kind of information you can find on the censuses of 1930 and 1940.

A. Location (1940 and 1935): The header lists the state, county, city, and other information. To find the street address, under the header, combine column 2 and column 1. You can include these and other details in a search on Ancestry.

B. Household and relationships: Look for in-laws, siblings, and other extended family members who might have been living in the same home. Follow household members over the age of 10 back to the 1930 census.

C. Personal description and birthplace: Note the ages of children. A large gap in ages might indicate the birth of another child during that period. The birthplace of the oldest child could indicate where the parents were married. Use ages and place of birth to search for birth records. A foreign birthplace can point you to a passenger arrival record in the passenger lists on Ancestry.

D. Education: In 1940, the average number of grades adults had completed was 8.6. An “H” indicates the number of completed years of high school. A “C” indicates the number of completed years of college. If you find out that your relative attended high school, you can search the Ancestry collection of high school yearbooks for photos and other information. 

E. Citizenship of the foreign born: “Na” (naturalized) or “Pa” (filed first papers) indicates that this immigrant was already a U.S. citizen or was in the process of becoming one. You can search for naturalization records in the Immigration & Travel collection on Ancestry. 

F. Employment: Types of jobs, weeks worked, and wages can shed light on the family’s situation coming out of the Great Depression. On the census, the reported income was capped at $5,000. Trace your family member’s job history by reviewing earlier census records and city directories on Ancestry. 

G. Supplemental information: For each page of the form, the census taker asked two individuals additional questions. Their answers can provide more clues about ethnicity, marriages, military service, and employment. Each answer can point you to other records on Ancestry, including draft registration cards, newspapers, and birth, marriage, and death records.

1900 to 1920 censuses

Censuses that were created in the early 1900s are much more detailed than earlier census records. In addition to names, ages, and genders, you’ll discover information like this:

• Relationships between family members 
• Street names 
• Marital status 
• Immigration years 
• Parents’ birthplaces 

Each census asked for unique information: 

• 1920: The year a respondent was naturalized (became a citizen) 
• 1910: Whether a man was a veteran of the Civil War 
• 1900: The number of children a woman had given birth to

1890 census

Almost all of the 1890 census was destroyed by a fire and subsequent water damage. All that remained was a list of 6,160 individuals. Unless you’re one of the lucky descendants of those individuals, you’ll need to to fill in the time gap by using other records. Here are some ideas: 

• City directories, which include addresses and other details 
• Regional censuses, which many states conducted in 1885 and 1895 
• Clues in birth, marriage, and death records

1880 census

In 1880, census takers asked about relationships between household members. Previous censuses didn’t record this information. Census takers also asked for parents’ birthplaces. You can use this information to track down the origins of your immigrant relatives.

1870 census

In 1870, census takers asked individuals whether their parents were born outside the U.S. They also asked whether the individual had been born or married within the year. 

1850 census

The 1850 census was the first to list the name of every individual in a household. Each entry includes an age, gender, race, and birthplace. The census didn’t record relationships between individuals, however, so you shouldn’t assume everyone in the household was related. 

1790 to 1840 censuses

Early censuses list only the names of the head of each household (generally men). Tally marks represent other individuals in the household. By comparing the number of individuals in the household with what you already know about a family, you might be able to confirm a connection to your family tree. 

Family members aren’t listed by name, but age ranges can help you estimate birth years. If a head of household disappears between censuses, it might be a clue that they died. 

Next steps

Now that you know what kind of information you can find on the censuses, learn tips and best practices for building your family tree.

To get started searching the censuses, go to the U.S. Federal Census Collection.