Ethnic Origon.

[liverpool lass]

I have a family on the 1881 Canadian Census that has English as their ethnic origon but all born in Nova Scotia. Does this mean that their families arrived the generation before or could they have been there for several generations?

[MJP]

Hi liverpool lass,

I believe the "ethnic origin" question on the census of that period simply refers to the closest non-Canadian nationality, it may not necessarily refer to the previous generation.  And it always traced through the male line.  So, for example, a person born in Canada whose father was born in England (mother born anywhere) would have "English" has their origin.  Likewise, if the father had been born in Canada, but HIS father was born in England, the original person in question would still be classed as having english origins.  (It is only in the last 10 years or so that "Canadian" has been an option for ethnic origin on the census  - the first year that was on the census the cultural distribution of the population changed dramtically...) 

So, the short answer is that it tells you where the male line was originally from, but does not help to establish when they came over.   

MJP

[liverpool lass]

Thank you. It is as I feared! Oh well, onward!!

[Hilaryanne]

If they are still living for the 1901 census, it mentions year of arrival in Canada. Could be usefull!

Hilary

[liverpool lass]

Thanks. I found some census transcripts for 1871/61 and it seem as if the family was settled in Canada then. It looks like I'll have to go further back to find out where they origonally came from in England. They are not a main branch of my tree but I was curious!!