Census of Manitoba, 1870

Upon joining Confederation, a separate census for Manitoba was taken in 1870.

The newly-created province of Manitoba was enumerated shortly after joining Confederation. The census officially began on October 27, 1870, but information was collected based on residence as of July 16, 1870. This Census is sometimes called the Archibald Census.

The 1871 federal census does not include Manitoba. When researching between 1871 to 1881, use the Census of Manitoba 1870.

There was only one schedule for this census, and it had 20 questions.

If you want to look at multiple pages, the images are on microfilm C-2170.

The census is also indexed in these books:

• Surname index to the 1870 census of Manitoba and Red River
• 1870 Manitoba Index

List of districts and sub-districts

See the tables defining this census' districts and sub-districts.

Instructions to enumerators

• Return: instructions to the Honorable A. Archibald

Statistical summary

• Census of Canada, 1870-71 = Recensement du Canada, 1870-71, volume IV.

Column headings

Column 1. Number
A unique number was assigned to each person. The head of the family, typically the father, was assigned the first number; following consecutive members were assigned to the rest of the family members.

Column 2. Name
Entered with the given name first, then surname.

Column 3. Where resident, parish or place
Place of residence on July 16, 1870. This column also includes the gender of the person.

Column 4. Where born

• For people born outside of Canada, the name of the country of origin (for example, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, and so on).
• For people born in Canada, the name of the province or territory.
• For people born in Manitoba, the name of the place.

Column 5. Age at next birthday
Children under one year of age were listed as being "1" (one year old at next birthday).

Column 6. Name of father
Full name of the father with given name first, followed by surname.

Column 7. Half-breed (Métis)
Any person having both white and Indian blood.

Column 8. White
Those who are white, or with no admission of Indian blood.

Column 9. Indian
Includes Aboriginal people settled on land or living in houses. Aboriginal people living in tents or wandering from place to place, without a settled home, are not included.

Column 10. Married
Column 11. Single
Column 12. Widow
Column 13. Widower
Column 14. British subject
Column 15. Citizen of the United States
Column 16. French, half-breeds
Column 17. English, half-breeds
Column 18. Catholic
Column 19. Protestant

Column 20. No title indicated in the column but occasional remarks are included, such as "'absent", "wintering out", "adopted", or "illegitimate".

Other

• The number "1" or a downward stroke (|) was written whenever YES was the answer.
• Ditto marks (") or "do" were used, especially to indicate the same surname within a family.