Census returns taken in Nova Scotia date back to those under French occupation prior to 1750. Information regarding these records can be found through Acadian sources. The vast majority of census returns conducted since, being under British control, have survived and copies are held with either the Provincial Archives in Halifax [NSARM] and/or with the Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa [LAC]. [...more]

Below are listed the censuses of Nova Scotia and also those later of Canada that include Hants County in there returns. The County of Hants was established in 1781 out of part of what had been Kings County. [...more] Nova Scotia was one of the four founding provincial colonies in British America to enter into Canadian Confederation of 1867 which became the Dominion of Canada.

Early census returns were not complete, only population counts that named the "head of the family," and the ages and sex of the other members. Later returns made after Canadian Confederation were taken every ten years. These censuses are complete nominal returns and provide detailed information about each member of the family - giving name, age, sex, place of origin, etc. The four census years of Canada being 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901 have been released for public search.

Census records are available on microfilm; many indexes of these are now available online. You may view microfilm census records at the Provincial Archives in Halifax [NSARM], borrow them from the Library and Archives Canada [LAC] to any Canadian library that participates in "interlibrary loan" (ILL), or arrange to view them from the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA through a  Family History Center near you.

• 1791 - 1795  Poll Tax Rolls
  

  • To deal with the provincial debt the provincial legislature of Nova Scotia passed poll tax acts in 1791, 1792 and 1793 which levied a capitation tax on all adult males. The amount of tax was based on a person's employment and their ownership of cattle or sheep and was collected until the legislation was repealed in 1796.
    
    

• 1817 Census of Nova Scotia
  

  • A census taken only for the counties of Hants, Pictou, and Sydney. This "head of family" census also lists the sex and ages of other members in the family.
    
    

• 1838 Census of Nova Scotia
  

  • Return of Census for Nova Scotia, made pursuant to the Act, passed in the first year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, entitled an "Act for taking the Census of this Province." The first general census of the province to survive almost in its entirety. This "head of family" census indicated occupation and counted the total numbers of males and females in the family.
    
    

• 1851 Census of Nova Scotia
  

  • A provincial census return was taken in 1851 but very little of it remains today - Hants County records did not survive - only Halifax city and county, and Kings County are available for research.
    
    

• 1861 Census of Nova Scotia
  

  • This census return included the entire province, and was the last one taken before Canadian Confederation of 1867. This census named only the "head of family." 
    
    

• 1871 Census of Canada
  

  • The first census of Canada. A complete nominal return that provides detailed information about each member of the family - giving name, age, sex, place of origin, etc.
    
    

• 1881 Census of Canada
  

  • The second census of Canada. A complete nominal return that provides detailed information about each member of the family - giving name, age, sex, place of origin, etc.
    
    

• 1891 Census of Canada
  

  • The third census of Canada. A complete nominal return that provides detailed information about each member of the family - giving name, age, sex, place of origin, etc.
    
    

• 1901 Census of Canada
  

  • The 1901 Census offers a rich source of information about Canada and Canadians at the turn of the 20th Century. The forth census of Canada. A complete nominal return that provides detailed information about each member of the family - giving name, age, sex, place of origin, etc.
    
    

• 1911 Census of Canada
  

  • Conducted under the provisions of the Census and Statistics Act (1905), the Fifth General Census of Canada began on 01 June and collected information related to each inhabitant of the country, including place of habitation, marital status, age, place of birth, religion, occupation, education, etc. The Census of Canada 1911 covered the nine provinces and two territories that were then part of Confederation.

This information is intended for personal research use only. Please verify information with primary source documents before accepting any as actual fact. This material may be printed out as long as this notice remains. Any commercial use or sale of this information is strictly prohibited without the permission of the HantsGenWeb Project.