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Note: The 1881, 1891 and 1901 Census's are available on paper or disk
from the PEIGS!

P.E.I. Census Notes:

The French Era:

A listing made over 20 years ago says that there were 7 Censii known in the 1728-1748 period as follows: 1728 - pop. 297; 1730 - pop. 325; 1731 - pop. 347; 1734 - pop. 396; 1735 - pop. 432; 1747 - pop. 653; 1748 - pop. 735; all of which were head-of-household type. Copies of these are held at National Archives of Canada, Ottawa in the "Archives des Colonies", MG1 Series G1, Vol. 466. Robertson Library of UPEI, Charlottetown has them on microfilm #F5350F73.

• 1752 Sieur de la Roque Census - pop. 2,223 which was nominal for all in the home. A copy of it is held at National Archives of Canada, Ottawa in the "Archives des Colonies", MG1 Series G1, Vol. 466. PEI Archives have a copy of the English transcript published in "Report of the Canadian Archives for 1905", pp 75-165.

  Additionally there were four later censii taken but no information remains: 1753 - pop. 2,641; 1755 - pop. 2,969; 1756 - pop. 4,400; 1758 - pop. 4,600.

  The British Era of St. John's Island and later Prince Edward Island:

  

  By the treaty of Fontainebleau, in 1763, Ile Saint Jean, was formally ceded to Great Britain, ending the years of French rule on the Island. The name Ile. Saint Jean reverted to its English translation, St. John's Island.

  Beginning in 1798, P.E.I. censuses were reported in lots. A lot on P.E.I. may be compared to a township in other jusisdictions. There were 67 lots set up, and three "Royalties", Prince Town, Charlotte Town, and George Town. These lots were divied out among persons who had claims on the ground of military or other public services, mostly friends of the home government, by means of a lottery July 23^rd 1767. For more information on the setting up of the lot system on P.E.I., see page 19/20 of "Campbell's History of Prince Edward Island", also see, "Hutchinson's 1864 Directory of P.E.I." History pages.

  A local act was introduced in 1798 to rename the Island, and in 1799, St. John's Island became known as Prince Edward Island by Royal Allowance, the name chosen in honour of Prince Edward, later the Duke of Kent, father of Her Majesty the Queen.

• 1768 (Online) and 1798 (Online) - The summaries in these are from the tabulation of totals by Lot/Township as reported officially to the PEI Legislature and entered into its records. The total included people by gender and adult/children groupings, land holdings, livestock, crops or whatever was asked in the particular census.

• [1] 1805 - Pop. 6,957 in July, 7,041 in Nov. PEI Archives Film #C0226, Vol.21, P. 7 - Tabulation by totals by Lot/Township as reported to the P.E.I. Legislature and entered into its records. The total included people by gender and adult/children groupings, land holdings, livestock, crops.

• [2] 1827 - Pop. 23,266 PEIMHF held original, may now be at PARO.

• [3] 1833 - Pop. 32,292 PEI Archives holds original.

• [4] 1841 - Pop. 47,042 PEI Archives holds original, National Archives of Canada has microfilm which is available through inter-library loan, and you can access a Full Version Online!

• [5] 1848 - Pop. 62,678 PEI Archives holds original, National Archives of Canada has microfilm which is available through inter-library loan. Only the southern part of Lot 31 and much of Charlottetown and Royalty survived. The Prince Edward Island Archives has a copy of it, but most FHC locations do not keep it as it is small. This census is very valuable to Lot 31 and Charlottetown researchers, as there is no further available census for these areas till the 1881 census. Lot 31 Portion Online Here!

• [6] 1861 - Pop. 80,857 PEI Archives holds original, National Archives of Canada has microfilm which is available through inter-library loan.

• [7] 1871 - Pop. 94,021 PEI Archives holds original, National Archives of Canada has microfilm which is available through inter-library loan. See Report of the Superintendant of Census Returns - & Census Abstract.

• [8] 1881 - Pop. 108,891 First Census following P.E.I.'s joining Canada. Original destroyed by Statistics Canada, microfilm copies held by National Archives of Canada, PEI Archives, and a number of local libraries. Avail. by inter-library loan, and census transcripts on disk or paper are available from P.E.I.G.S.
  A description of the fields in this census Online Here! - 1881 Census Index Online Here!

• [9] 1891 - Pop. 109,878 Microfilm Copies held by National Archives, PEI Archives, and a number of local libraries. Avail. by inter-library loan, census transcripts on disk or paper from P.E.I.G.S., and you can access a 1891 Census Index Online Here! - A description of the fields in this census Online Here!

• [10] 1901 - Pop. 103,259 Microfilm Copies held by National Archives, PEI Archives, and a number of local libraries. Avail. by inter-library loan, census transcripts on disk or paper from P.E.I.G.S., and you can access a 1901 Census Index Online Here! A description of the fields in this census Online Here! Full images of 1901 census Online here!

Maps such as the 1863 Lake Map, the 1880 Atlas Maps and the 1928 Cummins Atlas Maps and listings are excellent supplements to cover the spans of time between surviving Censii.

Directories such as the 1863 Lake Map Directories, Hutchinson's 1864, Lovell's 1871, McAlpine's 1880/81, Cummins 1928, 1880 Meacham's Patron Index, and the 1922 and 1935 Telephone Directories and others will also fill in some of the gaps, though their records are spotty.

Many of these censuses may also be ordered up by your local Family History center of the LDS (Mormon) church. See our Online Catalog of their known P.E.I. holdings!

Note: Reel #'s are those of the National Archives of Canada. Census breakdowns courtesy John Collins!
Using a Mac for Census Import? - See this information from John!