Return To Main Page | County & District GenWebs | FAQ | Need Help? | Volunteer | Research | Submissions | What’s New to OntarioGenWeb? Research By Topic Migration: Into Ontario By genealogy standards Migration is a rather large topic to tackle. Therefore I have only briefly touched the surface. It is hoped though that the information provided below and on the accompanying pages will be enough to help you get started if you had a relative "come to Ontario, Upper Canada, or Canada West", but you are unsure of where they may have settled. This information is far from complete, and may contain errors, so your input is appreciated. It is hard to say exactly when the settlement of Ontario began. In the 1600's Ontario was part of New France and there were settlements along the shorelines of Hudson Bay and Lake Huron. The major influx of settlement started with the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 when those who remained loyal to Britain fled from the USA into Canada. Most fled first to the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, then ventured into Ontario (then called Upper Canada) as land became available. By the early 1800's Upper Canada was welcoming settlers from overseas "The province of Upper Canada was opened up for agricultural settlement during the first half of the nineteenth century. Before the American Revolution it had been a wilderness inhabited only by a few Indians, except in the region around Detroit where French-Canadian farming communities had already been established. By 1851 it was a well-cultivated agricultural region, with an extensive system of canals and a few railford lines making its more remote districts accessible, and it had a population of 952,000 people. The population, having been recruited from many social groups outside the area, was extremely heterogeneous." Quoted from: Ethnic Groups in Upper Canada by Jean R. Burnet, 1972, Ontario Historical Society Immigrants from the USA came via foot and transporation available at that time (horse, wagons, stagecoach, etc) arriving in border towns such as Ottawa, Pembroke, Fort Erie, Windsor, Sarnia, and Sault Ste. Marie. Some arrived via boat or ship to the ports of Cornwall, Kingston, Toronto, Windsor and the like. Immigrants from overseas had a required first stop before being allowed entrance into Canada. From 1832 to the 1930's all had to stop at the island of Grosse Île (located in the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City - now a national historical site) to be checked for contagious diseases. Those found to be infected were quarantined, and those found healthy were released. This found many families split apart -- some to never be reunited. From Grosse Île, immigrants had three options, remain in Quebec (which some did for a generation or two before heading west), travel west via land, or travel west via water. Immigration Records Emigration Records Grosse Île: Canada's Immigration Station WANTED: Settlers Where Did Your Ancestor Come From? African Americans Albania Arabian Peninsula Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Belgium Bulgaria Byelorussia (Soviet Union) Carribean Ceylon / Sri Lanka Chile China Croatia Czechoslovakia Denmark Ecuador Egypt England Estonia Fiji Finland France French Royalists Georgia German-Speaking Germany Greece Guyana Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jews Korea Latvia Lebanon Lithuania Macedonia Malaysia Malta Mennonites Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Pennsylvania Deutsch Philippines Poland Portugal Quakers Roumania Russia Scotland Serbia Six Nations Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Syria Tibet Tobago Trinidad Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Empire Loyalists U.S.A. Uruguay Vietnam Wales West Indies African Americans Time Period 1755 + Cause of Migration The Revolutionary War (USA) The War of 1812 (USA/Canada) The abolition of slavery in Canada 1833 The fugitive slave act 1850 (USA) Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Amherstburg, Colchester, Windsor Chatham, North Buxton, Dresden Cobourg Kingston Hamilton, London, St. Catharines, Toronto, Welland Communal settlements were established in Dawn (Lambton County), Elgin (Leeds County) and Wilberforce (Renfrew County) return to top Albania Time Period 1904 + Cause of Migration The revolt against Turkey Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) and Peterborough (Peterborough County) return to top Arabian Peninsula (includes the areas of the Gulf States, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudia Arabia) Time Period 1901+ Cause of Migration Opportunities not available in country of origin Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) with smaller settlements in Hamilton (Wentworth County), London (Middlesex Count), Ottawa (Carleton County), Sudbury (Sudbury District) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Argentina Time Period 1900's Cause of Migration Politics and Economy in Country of Origin Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Sudbury (Sudbury District) and Toronto (York County) return to top Armenia Time Period 1880's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) with smaller settlements in Hamilton (Wentworth County), Ottawa (Carleton County), and St. Catharines (Lincoln County) return to top Australia Time Period Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) and Ottawa (Carleton County) return to top Austria Time Period 1880's + Cause of Migration Pre and post war effects Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Belgium Time Period 1920's + Cause of Migration The Dominion Sugar Company, which recruited workers from West Flanders, Belgium Settlement in the Grand Bend area (Huron County) was encouraged by Belgian immigrant and tobacco farmer Gerhard Vanden Bussche who brought several settlers from Belgium and Holland Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Chatham & Wallaceburg (Kent County), Delhi & Langton (Norfolk County) and Kitchener (Waterloo County) return to top Bulgaria Time Period 1912+ Post WW2 Cause of Migration The Balkan Wars (1912 - 1913) Political refugees Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Hamilton (Wentworth County), Niagara (Lincoln & Welland Counties), and Toronto (York County) return to top Byelorussia (Soviet Union) Time Period 1918 + Post WW2 Cause of Migration The Russian Revolution World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Sudbury (Sudbury District), Timmins (Cochrane District), Toronto (York County) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Carribean Time Period 1946 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Ceylon (Sri Lanka after 1972) Time Period 1960's + Cause of Migration Economy and Politics Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County), Ottawa (Carleton County) return to top Chile Time Period 1970 + Cause of Migration The Special Chilean Movement, which was created to assist political refugees from Chile who were forced to leave due to the overthrow of the Allende government Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) and Sudbury (Sudbury District) return to top China Time Period 1947 + Cause of Migration The easing of the Chinese Immigration Act which was introduced in 1923 allowing no Chinese to migrate to Canada, sponsorship starting in 1947 allowed close relatives of Chinese-Canadians to immigrate Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Croatia Time Period 1900 + Cause of Migration Politics and Economy Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1907 - Welland (Welland County) 1910 - Hamilton (Wentworth County) 1923 - Ford City (Essex County) 1924 - Creighton Mine & Levack (Sudbury District) 1925 - Toronto (York County) 1926 - Schumacher-Timmins & Kirkland Lake (Timiskaming District), Carson Mine, Kapuskasing (Algoma District) Port Arthur (Thunder Bay District) Sault Ste. Marie (Algoma District) return to top Czechoslovakia Time Period 1900 + Cause of Migration 1921 - Sugar Beet Production World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Chatham (Kent County), Hamilton (Wentworth County), Kingston (Frontenac County), Toronto (York County), and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Denmark Time Period 1800's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1893 - London (Middlesex County) early 1900's - Pass Lake (Thunder Bay District) return to top Ecuador Time Period 1970 + Cause of Migration USA's restritive immigration laws and Canada's need for unskilled workers Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Sudbury (Sudbury District) Toronto (York County) return to top Egypt Time Period 1956 + Cause of Migration Politics and Economy Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Ottawa (Carleton County), Toronto (York County), Windsor (Essex County) return to top England Time Period 1610 + (1775-1812) (1815-1855) Cause of Migration American Revolution World Wars One & Two Promotion by the Canada Company "No organized attempt to sell Canada to the British public was made until 1826, when the Canada Company was incorporated in London, England"1 Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Canada Company promoted the area lying north of the southern part of Lake Huron to the head of Lake Ontario return to top Estonia Time Period 1944 + Cause of Migration World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Fiji Time Period 1964 + Cause of Migration Economy Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Finland Time Period 1870 +, mostly after 1920 Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Port Arthur-Fort William (Thunder Bay District) Sudbury-Copper Cliff (Sudbury Distric return to top France Time Period 1600's + Cause of Migration The creation of New France (Quebec) Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1749 - Windsor (Essex County) & the counties of Carleton, Dundas, Frontenac, Glengarry, Grenville, Leeds, Prescott, Renfrew,Russell, and Stormont return to top French Royalists Time Period Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario York County return to top Georgia Time Period 1945 + Cause of Migration World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Hamilton (Wentworth County), St. Catharines (Lincoln County) and Toronto (York County) return to top German-Speaking Time Period 1786 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1786-1828 - A migration from the counties of Franklin, Lancaster, Montgomery and Bucks in Pennsylvania to Ontario was begun, most were "Pennsylvania Deutsch" or Mennonites and of Swiss origins, to Niagara Peninsula (Lincoln & Welland Counties) & Waterloo County Renfrew County return to top Germany Time Period 1792 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1792-1837 - (Pennsylvania Deutsch/Mennonites) Haldimand, Lincoln and Welland Counties 1820's - Grand River area & Kitchener-Waterloo (Waterloo County) Bruce, Grey, Huron & Perth Counties attracted those from Europe, while Renfrew County attracted those from Prussia The north shore of Lake Ontario attracted "Hessians" Germans who had served with the British Army during the Revolutionary War return to top Greece Time Period early 1900's Cause of Migration Economy Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County), Hamilton (Wentworth County), London (Middlesex County), Ottawa (Carleton County) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Guyana Time Period 1950's + Cause of Migration Racial and Political unrest Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Hungary Time Period early 1900's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County), Hamilton (Wentworth County), St. Catharines (Lincoln County), Windsor (Essex County), Ottawa (Carleton County), Kitchener (Waterloo County), and London (Middlesex County) return to top Iceland Time Period 1873 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1873 - Rosseau (Parry Sound District) settled by about 100 immigrants 1874 - Kinmount (Victoria County) settled by 365 immigrants Toronto (York County) return to top India Time Period 1960's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Indonesia Time Period 1966 + Cause of Migration Easing of the Canadian immigration law Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Iran Time Period 1970's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Ireland Time Period 1798 + Cause of Migration Irish Rebellion (1798) Potato Famine (1823-1849) The highest number of those fleeing from the famine came during the years of 1847 & 1848 Depression (1880's) Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1823 - Ramsay Twp (Lanark County) and Huntley and Goulbourn Twps (Carleton County) Peter Robinson led 600 Irish immigrants from Ireland to the area in a British government emigration experiment 1825 - Peterborough County, Peter Robinson brought about 2000 immigrants to Peterborough 1804-1837 Elgin County, The Talbot Settlement founded by Colonel Thomas Talbot 1800's - settlers from Quebec's New Glasgow settlement and nearby Kilkenny Township migrated to Carleton County 1847 - Lake ports along Lake Ontario (Cobourg, Oshawa, Kingston, etc)2 return to top Italy Time Period 1800's + Cause of Migration Building of the Railways Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Hamilton (Wentworth County), Niagara/St. Catharines (Lincoln County), Sault Ste. Marie (Algoma District), Sudbury (Sudbury District), Thunder Bay (Thunder Bay District), Toronto (York County), and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Jamaica Time Period early 1800's + Cause of Migration To avoid enslavement by the British Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Japan most via British Columbia Time Period 1945 + Cause of Migration World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Jews Time Period 1830's + Cause of Migration Economy Religious persecution Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Dundas & Hamilton (Wentworth County) Lancaster (Glengarry County), Ottawa (Carleton Carleton County), Toronto (York County) return to top Korea Time Period Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Brampton (Peel County) Toronto (York County) return to top Latvia Time Period 1900's Cause of Migration World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Hamilton (Wentworth County) Toronto (York County) return to top Lebanon Time Period 1800's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1888 - Toronto (York County) c1890 - Ottawa (Carleton County) via Montreal (Quebec) via Tyre Valley, Lebanon 1800's - New Liskeard (Timiskaming District) London (Middlesex County), Windsor (Essex County) return to top Lithuania Time Period 1800's + Cause of Migration 1812 - 150 imprisoned Napoleon soldiers migrated to Canada in order to gain their freedom by fighting for the British late 1880's - to escape conscription into the Russian army Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario c1812 - Fort Erie (Welland County) late 1800's - Hamilton (Wentworth County), London (Middlesex County), Ottawa (Carleton County), Toronto (York County) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Macedonia Time Period 1903 + Cause of Migration The revolt of 1903 Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Malaysia Time Period 1970's + Cause of Migration Politics and Economy Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Malta Time Period 1840's + Cause of Migration World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1840's - St. Catharines (Lincoln County) 1940's - Toronto (York County) Belleville (Hastings County), Guelph (Waterloo County), Hamilton (Wentworth County), London (Middlesex County), Oshawa & Whitby (Durham County), Ottawa (Carleton County), Peterborough (Peterborough County), St. Thomas (Elgin County), and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Mennonites Time Period 1786 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1786 - Niagara Peninsula, Waterloo and York Counties welcomed those from Pennsylvania, aka the "Pennsylvania Deutsch" 1870's - western Waterloo County welcomed Amish Mennonites from Alsace 1920's - An influx of "Russian Mennonites" (those originally from Holland, then Prussia & Russia) into Ontario, place unknown Haldimand, Lincoln, and Welland Counties return to top Netherlands Time Period 1780's/1790's 1900's + Cause of Migration The Revoltionary War (Several of Dutch origin were United Empire Loyalists) World War Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Holland Marsh (Simcoe & York Counties) Toronto (York County) return to top New Zealand Time Period 1900's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Nigeria Time Period 1960's + Cause of Migration Quest for a higher education Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Pakistan Time Period 1967 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Pennsylvania Deutsch (Pennsylvania Germans) see also German-Speaking Time Period 1792 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Haldimand, Lincoln and Welland Counties return to top Philippines Time Period 1946 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) and Ottawa (Carleton County) return to top Poland Time Period 1860's + Cause of Migration Repression by Russia, Austria and Prussia Railway construction (attracted some of those that originally settled in Northern USA) Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1860's - Renfrew County (those from the Kaszuby Region) c1860 - Waterloo County (those from Prussian occupied areas) Hamilton (Wentworth County) and Toronto (York County) return to top Portugal Time Period 1950's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Galt-Kitchener (Waterloo County), Hamilton (Wentworth County), Kingston (Frontenac County), London (Middlesex County), Ottawa (Carleton County), Toronto (York County) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Quakers (The Society of Friends) Time Period 1800 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario In 1800 a settlement was established in York County by Timothy Rogers return to top Roumania Time Period Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Kitchener (Waterloo County), Toronto (York County) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Russia Time Period 1900's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Hamilton (Wentworth County), Kitchener (Waterloo County), London (Middlesex County), Ottawa (Carleton County), St. Catharines (Lincoln County), Timmins (Timiskaming District), Toronto (York County) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Scotland Time Period 1785 + Cause of Migration From Rick Raab-Faber - Some of the causes of migration were due, no doubt, to sovereignty issues. My particular Clan, the McFarlands, had been outlawed in Scotland due to the murder of the head of the Colquoun clan Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1785 - Glengarry County was settled by 600 from Glengarry, Scotland 1816 - Perth (Lanark County) 1849 - 50-60 families from South Uist emigrated to West Williams Township, Middlesex County 1852 - the Dundas County area was settled by 1500 from the Barra, Benbecula and South Uist regions of Scotland 1852 - Glengarry County welcomed some of a group of 4500 (some stayed in Glengarry, others went on to Nova Scotia) 1800's - settlers (originally from Glasgow and Paisley, Scotland) from Quebec's New Glasgow settlement and nearby Kilkenny Township migrated to Carleton County From Larry McLaren - There is considerable evidence of migration from PEI and Nova Scotia in the early to mid 1800s. There seems to be considerable settlment in the Bruce and Huron and surrounding Counties return to top Serbia Time Period 1903 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Hamilton (Wentworth County) Niagara Falls (Welland County) Toronto (York County) return to top Six Nations Time Period 1800 + Cause of Migration The Six Nations were six different "tribes" or nations of the Iroquois. They moved to Ontario from New York because they were promised land in British North America after the American Revolution for fighting on the side of the British, in other words, they were United Empire Loyalists Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Grand River -- Joseph Brant led this Indian tribe to this area in Haldimand and Brant Counties return to top Slovakia Time Period 1878 + Cause of Migration Lack of work in the USA Mining work available in Northern Ontario Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1878 - Toronto (York County) via USA 1920's-30's - Sudbury (Sudbury District) and Timmins (Timiskaming District) Hamilton (Wentworth County), St. Catharines (Lincoln County), Thunder Bay (Thunder Bay District), and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Slovenia Time Period 1875 + Cause of Migration Economic Reasons Establishment of the communist regime in Yugoslavia After World War One - Restrictions on USA immigration 1956-1958 - Hungarian uprising Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) Timmins & Kirkland Lake (Timiskaming District) Hamilton (Wentworth County), St. Catharines (Lincoln County), Niagara Peninsula return to top Spain Time Period 1913 + Cause of Migration Economy Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Sweden Time Period 1890's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Northern shore of Lake-of-the-Woods (Kenora District) Mossley (Middlesex County) Toronto (York County) return to top Switzerland Time Period 1786 + Cause of Migration 1786-1820 - The Pennsylvania Dutch migration 1812 - Disbanding of military regiments late 1800's - A migration of Bernese farmers to Zurich Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Haldimand, Lincoln and Welland Counties Whitchurch (York County) Along the Grand River Waterloo County via Pennsylvania (some of the Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonites) Perth (Lanark County) Zurich (Huron County) return to top Syria Time Period 1901 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario return to top Tibet Time Period 1971 + Cause of Migration Invasion by China Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) return to top Tobago Time Period 1970's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario return to top Trinidad Time Period 1970's + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario return to top Turkey Time Period 1890's + Cause of Migration Politics and Economy Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) Windsor (Essex County) return to top Uganda Time Period 1972 + Cause of Migration Uganda ordered those of Asian Indian and Asian Pakistan origins out of the country Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario London (Middlesex County), Toronto (York County) and Windsor (Essex County) return to top Ukraine Time Period 1896 + Cause of Migration Oppresive social and economic conditions World Wars One and Two Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Hamilton (Wentworth County), St. Catharines-Niagara (Lincoln County), Thunder Bay (Thunder Bay District), Toronto (York County) return to top United Empire Loyalists Time Period 1776 + Cause of Migration The Revolutionary War Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario 1776-1791 - Niagara Peninsula to the Eastern border of Ontario 1784 - Augusta (Grenville County), Cornwall (Stormont County), Fredericksburg (Lennox & Addington County), Kingston (Frontenac County), Prescott (Carleton County), Prince Edward County, Along the Thames and Detroit Rivers, and the Lake Erie shoreline return to top United States of America Time Period 1760 + Cause of Migration The Revolutionary War World War Two Escaping the draft for the Vietnam War Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario return to top Uruguay Time Period 1973 + Cause of Migration Politics Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Sudbury (Sudbury District), Toronto (York County) return to top Vietnam Time Period 1975 + Cause of Migration The fall of Saigon Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Ottawa (Carleton County), Toronto (York County) return to top Wales Time Period 1800's + Cause of Migration Economy Disbanding of Welsh military groups that fought in the War of 1812 Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario York County - Families from Pennsylvania 's Welsh tract founded 1682 established a Quaker Settlement in York County Demoblized military men (1818) settled in Kingston, London, and Niagara Peninsula Talbot Settlement Southwold Twp (Elgin County) Queenston & Stamford (Niagara) return to top West Indies Time Period 1946 + Cause of Migration unknown Area of Prominent Settlement In Ontario Toronto (York County) Birth Records     Adoption In Ontario Census Records Church Records     Religion In Ontario Citizenship/Naturalization Records Court Records Death Records     Cemetery Records     Funeral Records     Disasters     Epidemics Emigration Records     To the Red River Valley     Migration: Out of Ontario Immigration Records     Grosse Île     Migration: Into Ontario     Ships Lists     Petworth Emigration Scheme     WANTED: Settlers Land Records     Maps Marriage Records Military Records     Military Actions     UE Loyalists: What? 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