Searching census records can be confusing, especially when your ancestor does not appear in a search. These are some tips I hope helps:
o Search using various spellings of the surname
o Search using children or spouse
o Refine search using dates and place
o Search that census year directly
o Leave off the last name {best done if you search one census year directly}
o Include parents’ names {or spouse or children}
o Look for children to see if parents {or other siblings} live nearby
o Look at the actual census record when found {sometimes the transcription is wrong}
o Search for neighbors
o Research the area to see if there was a mass exodus {especially when the country was expanding west}
o Did your loved one move?
o Search for parents, maybe they had to move back home {or in with a sibling}
o Search without a name {try using dates, location, place of birth, etc.}
o Use the birth and death dates to bookend the search
o Search for another year to determine his birth year, place of birth or even parentage. Then using that information do another search in the necessary year.
o Try a wildcard search: Smith or Smyth could be Sm?th; you can also search using Sm***
o Be familiar with nicknames
o Don’t rule out middle names {search them also}
o Search for initials {this is very common}
o Search for unusual names {especially the most unusual name in family}
o Search first names only {using filters such as birth date, place, etc}
o Record all the little details, they may give information for another census year
o Check the handwriting {is it difficult to read, a misspelling, etc}.
o Reverse surname and first name
o Think outside the box
o Browse the census records [especially if you know the area where they lived]
o Search for other spouses
o Search for other surnames {sometimes women or children are listed under another surname or you may find them by searching for the children with an earlier spouse}
o Change the birth year {use the +/- 2,5 or 10} to search. Often this information recorded is wrong.
o Remember that less is more {the less you search for the more you may find}
o Use the boxes to link spouses, children and/or parents
o Experiment with various options until you find the individual {you may want to keep a list of what you’ve tried}
o Realize they may be missed by the census taker. I had a case of this with a family. I searched through the entire census in Abbeville County, SC on the 1870 census. None of my family was listed and this was a HUGE family. I knew they had not all moved and then returned. Sadly, I realized the census taker had missed the entire area where they lived.
Join the Conversation: What other search suggestions do you have?