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About the Census Indexes (1881, 1891 and 1901)
In 1881 Prince Edward Island was, for the first time, part of the Canadian census. This was also the first time since the census of the Sieur de la Rocque in 1752 that the Prince Edward Island census was truly nominal, giving the names of each individual who lived in the household, and not simply that of the head of the household. The 1891 and 1901 censuses followed this format as well, each providing a little more and different information as the process of census taking became more sophisticated. All three censuses give information about the individual's given name, sex, age, marital status, place of birth, religion, occupation and infirmities. In 1891, categories were added regarding employment, ability to read and write, and place of birth of the individual's father and mother. In 1901, information collected was expanded to include colour, date of birth, racial origin, nationality, dates of immigration and of naturalization, earnings, months in school if a student, languages spoken (English, French), and mother tongue.
Although these later censuses contain considerably less information about land and agricultural pursuits than the preceding ones, they are a much richer source of personal information concerning origin, family relationships, education, language, and employment.
Coverage is complete for the 1881 and 1901 censuses. Lots 21 and 22 however are missing from the 1891 census.
Indexes
This electronic version of the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census indexes is a joint project of the Public Archives and Records Office and the Prince Edward Island Genealogical Society. The Genealogical Society volunteers have transcribed both censuses in their entirety and have developed databases which contain complete census information. The indexes are owned by the P.E.I. Genealogical Society and are provided in this format for research purposes only. Copying of the complete indexes is prohibited.
The on-line index for each census contains an abstract of information for each individual recorded in the census. This includes surname, given name, age, religion, and Lot number. The 1901 census index also includes occupation. The information supplied does not place that individual within the context of the household in which he lives. Names of other persons living in the household are grouped by household only in the full census. Use the search program to locate names of interest in the database. And then use the Lot numbers attached to those names to access the additional information in the full census.
This is a finding aid only, as are the printed transcripts for each Lot. Neither should be relied upon to replace the original manuscript census, as the production of any such finding aid is subject to interpretation and transcription errors. Errors have also been observed in the original census records. Users are encouraged to consult the original records on microfilm.
Full Census Information
The 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses are available both on microfilm and in Genealogical Society printed transcripts at the Public Archives and Records Office. They are also available on microfilm through inter-institutional loan or by purchase of transcripts from the Society. Details on acquiring printed copies on interlibrary loan are provided below.
Please note that owing to time restrictions, the staff of the Public Archives and Records Office are not able to undertake searches of the census in response to research requests.
Purchase of Transcripts
If you wish to obtain printed copies of the census which contain additional names and information, full information regarding on ordering is available on the P.E.I. Genealogical Society web page.
Inter-Institutional Loan
The 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses are available on inter-institutional loan from the National Archives of Canada interlibrary loan service. The reel numbers for the films are as follows:
| 1881 Census | |||
| Lots | Reel | Lots | Reel |
| 1-19 20-24 25-28 29-37 38-47 48 |
C13162 C13163 C13162 C13163 C13164 C13163 |
49-62 63-64 65-67 Charlottetown Georgetown Princetown |
C13164 C13165 C13164 C13163 C13165 C13162 |
| 1891 Census | |||
| Lots | Reel | Lots | Reel |
| 1-4 5-20 21-22 23-24 25-28 29-37 38 39-47 48-50 51-56 57-58 |
T-6382 T-6383 missing T-6384 T-6383 T-6384 T-6381 T-6382 T-6384 T-6382 T-6384 |
59 60 61 62 63-64 65 66 67 Georgetown Charlottetown Summerside |
T-6382 T-6384 T-6382 T-6384 T-6382 T-6384 T-6382 T-6384 T-6381 T-6383 T-6382 |
| 1901 Census | |||
| Lots | Reel | Lots | Reel |
| 1-30 31-32 33-34 35-37 38-47 48-50 51-56 57-57 |
T-6510 T-6511 T-6510 T-6511 T-6509 T-6511 T-6509 T-6511 |
59 60-65 66 67 Charlottetown Georgetown Summerside |
T-6509 T-6511 T-6509 T-6510 T-6511 T-6509 T-6509 and T-6510 |
This information has been taken from www.gov.pe.ca