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1850 Census Records Online

Censuses offer a window into the pasts of your ancestors. The practice of taking a census on a nationwide basis dates back to 1790. With some exceptions, this information has been well-preserved.

GenealogyBank provides 1850 census records online in digital form, enabling you to unveil your family’s history.

Jump into your family history and search the 1850 census with just a few clicks. If you’re ready to construct your family tree, the 1850 census database has the information you need.

 

1850 Census Records Online

Federal censuses have been taken since 1790. The most recent publicly available census is 1850. A long history of census records means that the family researcher has a wealth of information to work from.

For acquiring basic information about your family and where they lived, the 1850 Federal census is an excellent place to start.

So, what can you find from a census?

  • Names – Look up the names of your ancestors and who they were married to. This can help to trace your ancestors as they move across the country, as well as uncovering ancestors you never knew about.
  • Birthplaces – Is your family on the move? United States census records 1850 provide information on birthplaces and may even offer insights into where a person’s parents were born.
  • Relatives – The 1850 US census includes information on everyone who resided within a household. Relatives like grandparents, cousins, and even adopted children may appear on a census.
  • Immigration – Find out more about your heritage with the1850 census searchable database. These documents shed light on your ancestors’ immigration and naturalization history.
  • Neighborhood Makeup – The United States census 1850 can help to build up a picture of where your ancestors lived and the type of neighborhood it was.

To create a picture of your family tree and uncover a launchpad for further research, perform a GenealogyBank 1850 census search now.

How to Search the United States Census 1850

Begin your search for an ancestor within the annals of the 1850 US census. With the help of GenealogyBank, you can traverse centuries of US history within a matter of seconds. The first step is to choose an ancestor to search for. With GenealogyBank, all you need to do is enter your ancestor’s first and last names. You’ll instantly see census results for your specific census.

However, for a successful 1850 census search you need to narrow down your results. Follow these steps to get more accurate results.

Step One – Enter the full name of your ancestor, including any middle names or initials they might have.

Step Two – Include some keywords, such as the location your ancestor lived in. For earlier censuses, you can add the state in which they lived, but the more information you have, the better.

Step Three – Exclude certain keywords if you know specific pieces of information don’t apply to your ancestor.

Step Four – Change the search order of your census results. GenealogyBank allows you to filter your results. This is especially important if you have less information on your ancestor, or they had a common last name.

 

Tips for a Successful 1850 Census Search

There is an art to extracting the most information from 1850 census records online. Census records vary in their accuracy. As a result, when you search the 1850 Federal census, implement these tips for a successful search.

Here are some advanced tips for a 1850 census search by name:

  • Search individually for each ancestor. Census records may differ between people even in the same household. This could yield additional important information.
  • Search for common misspellings or even common nicknames. Old censuses often lacked accuracy, particularly if your ancestors were illiterate.
  • Look up entries for the neighbors of your ancestors. It can shed light on the migratory heritage of your family.

Finally, make sure you use any census records you find as a platform for further research.

The Value of Our 1850 Census Database

Our census database has been fully digitized with the original records direct from the United States Census Bureau.

You have access to millions of census records at your fingertips. There’s no easier way to build your family tree and construct the history of this great nation and the role your ancestors played in it.

GenealogyBank records cover more than 330 years of US history. In a world where official records were few and people slipped into the mists of time, censuses are the one constant. Since 1790, a census has been taken every ten years. With some notable exceptions, the vast majority of records have survived up until the present day. Go back to the beginning of the American Experiment. Using the US census records should be your initial starting point for family research. They contain valuable information that can help you complete your genealogy project.

Explore 1850 Census Records

1850 Federal Census Facts

  • Population: 23,191,876 — a 35.9% increase from the 1840 Census
  • Census Date: June 1, 1850
  • Census Date Released: 1922
  • Number of States Participating: 31
  • U.S. Territories Participating: Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah
  • Data Lost: None

1850 Census Questions Asked

  • Number of family members
  • Name, age, and sex
  • Color (race)
  • Profession, occupation, or trade
  • Value of person’s real estate and personal estate
  • Place of birth
  • If the person had been married or attended school within the last year
  • If the person was over 20 years of age and if he could not read or write
  • If the person was deaf, dumb, blind, or idiotic
The slave questionnaire asked:
  • Name of owner
  • Number of slave (slaves were not assigned names & numbers restarted with each new owner)
  • Age, sex, color (black or mulatto)
  • Number of uncaught escaped slaves in the past year
  • Number of slaves freed in the past year
Explore 1850 Census Records

Notable Events Between 1840-1850:

The decade between 1840-1850 saw dramatic changes in population migration and immigration compared to previous years.

  • In May of 1840, the first wagon train to California departed from Missouri on the Oregon Trail.
  • The 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty formally designates the border separating the U.S. and Canada.
  • The Irish Potato Famine of 1845 leads to an influx of immigrants to the U.S.
  • In 1948 Gold was discovered in California & led to a sudden migration of 80,000 settlers to California.
  • In 1849 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War, and the U.S. received 500,000 square miles of territory.

Search the 1850 Census to learn where your ancestors lived and worked. Then use our library of newspaper archives to discover their trials and tribulations. With GenealogyBank you'll find more than just a surname and date. You find the stories of your ancestors. Your family history is waiting to be discovered.