{"id":28785,"date":"2018-01-31T11:06:16","date_gmt":"2018-01-31T16:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=28785"},"modified":"2021-04-19T09:50:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T13:50:42","slug":"genealogy-101-think-about-your-census-search-differently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-101-think-about-your-census-search-differently.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy 101: Think about Your Census Search Differently"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega provides search tips for finding your ancestor\u2019s name in the U.S. Census. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201c<\/em>From the Family Kitchen.<\/em><\/span>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As a genealogist, you\u2019re familiar with the U.S. Decennial Census. The census is most likely one of the first records you searched as a new family historian. But what about those times you can\u2019t find the person you\u2019re looking for in the census? Now what? Sometimes it\u2019s just a matter of thinking about the problem differently. Here are a few ideas to get you started.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: this 1940 Census publicity photo shows a census worker (left) collecting information from a respondent (right) in Fairbanks, Alaska. The dog musher (center, background) remains out of earshot to maintain confidentiality. Credit: Dwight Hammack, U.S. Bureau of the Census; FDR Presidential Library; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don\u2019t Overdo It<\/strong><\/p>\n

As you fill in the search engine boxes on a genealogy website, it can be tempting to include everything you know about your ancestor: the name of the person, year and place of birth, residence, and names of family members. But that can in some cases be the least effective way to search. By adding all of that information to the search form, you\u2019re essentially telling the website that it should find results that contain all of those dates\/names\/places. While it may seem like a good idea when searching on a common surname like \u201cSmith,\u201d it\u2019s not the best way to search in general.<\/p>\n

Searching for an ancestor in the census often means conducting multiple searches. You never know how an ancestor will be listed in a record, and sometimes finding them is not as easy as you would hope. To start, try searching on just a name, birth year and place, and residence. Working with a common surname? How about adding a spouse or a parent\u2019s first name? Someone in the family have a unique first name? Add that.<\/p>\n

Remember that the information you enter in a search engine box may look very different from what is found on the census. Don\u2019t give up after just one search; try various searches with different amounts of information.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Their Name?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Searching for a name can mean more than just entering a first and last name into a search engine. Consider that, for whatever reason, your ancestor\u2019s name may appear very differently than you would expect in the census. For example, initials substituting for first and middle names may have been used as a convenience for the census taker. A stepchild\u2019s surname may be mistakenly listed as the same as the head of household\u2019s. A nickname common to the era, but rarely used today, may have been substituted for a first name. And there can and will be misspellings and errors in indexing due to difficult-to-read handwriting.<\/p>\n

Also consider the name itself. A surname that starts with Mac or Van may be mis-indexed so that the prefix appears as a middle name, changing the surname completely.<\/p>\n

As you search for your ancestor in the census, make the most of search engine tools such as wild cards or Soundex (when available). Try variations of your ancestor\u2019s name. Also try to search by just a first name and some identifying information, leaving the surname out completely (works better if the first name isn\u2019t too common). Finally, always read more about the search engine and the website\u2019s collection to get tips for conducting the best search you can.<\/p>\n

Page by Page<\/strong><\/p>\n

In some cases, you may need to search the census page by page to find the person or family you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the benefit of searching the census page by page? Well to begin with, you\u2019re more likely to find something that was mis-transcribed or mis-indexed. However, you need to make sure to stay alert as you search line by line because it\u2019s easy to \u201czone out\u201d and glance over names, not truly paying attention.<\/p>\n

Obviously, suggesting going page by page in the census is easier said than done, especially in cases where you are searching a large metropolitan city. BUT I\u2019ve found that doing things the \u201cold fashioned\u201d way we use to, in some cases, can yield the results you need.<\/p>\n

Try Again<\/strong><\/p>\n

Census research isn\u2019t always easy. Of course, there\u2019s always the chance that \u2013 for whatever reason \u2013 your ancestor is simply not there or not where you expect to find them. But incorporating the above tips in your next search can make a difference.<\/p>\n

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