Response to Question: What Does CWF Mean in 1851 Canada Census

Posted by Lisa in Ontario Canada Genealogy I set up on GenealogyWise. I answered Lisa and decided to publish my response here too as I think it may help others

In the 1851 Census of Ontario, my ggg father is listed being born in CW which I know is Canada West. But what does CWF mean?

Reply by Lorine McGinnis Schulze
There is an "F" used in the 1851 census in the birth place column but it refers to the person being born of Canadian parents. So if you see CW F it means born in Canada West of Canadian parents.

See Questions Asked on 1851 Canadian Census for more help

A Reader Asks where the Canadian census images on Ancestry come from

David asked about Ancestry Canadian Census Images

I wonder if I might ask whether the noted images are on Ancestry's site or on that of the Government of Canada?

Hi David - That's a good question. If you go to
Ancestry.com and click on each census year (1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 and 1916) you will find information about each set of records. It is under the specific census search box and is titled "Source Information"

For example under the 1871 Census Canada, the information is given as "Images reproduced by courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada"

1851 and 1861 census says "Data imaged from Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada" That sounds to me like the images are pulled directly from LAC (Library & Archives Canada) website.

1881 census says "Images reproduced by courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada."

So it appears from the statements above that some census years may be housed on Ancestry's serve with permission of LAC and that others are pulled directly from LAC's server. However -- a visit to Ancestry.ca and their information on the Canadian Census database states "Original images of the Canadian censuses are held at LAC." This statement seems to indicate that all the images are on LAC's server and displayed on Ancestry with LAC's permission.

It's an intriguing question but I think the only way to get a defiinitive answer is to write to Ancestry.com and ask them

Finding out what F stands for in 1851 Canadian Census

Brenda asked:

What does "F" stand for in the 1851 Canada census? Someone told me it meant my ancestors were French. I am pretty sure they were from Ontario and were not French, so I'm confused!

Olive Tree Answer: Brenda, it can be very confusing when you don't know what symbols or abbreviations represent. So it's always a good idea to try to find out. If you go to AllCensusRecords.com you will find lists of questions and instructions for enumerators, for the varous Canadian census records.

Enumerator instructions for 1851 census included the following

In Canada East and West every person who sojourned in the house on the night of Sunday, 11 January 1851, as well as individuals who usually lived at the house, but were absent on that night, were to be enumerated. The following questions were asked by enumerators:

Birthplace (Those born of Canadian parents were denoted with an F)

Search the Canadian Census Records for an Ancestor

Donna asked

I am looking for the history of my mother Anne Or anna Steele born in Antler Falls Saskatchewan around 1900-1920 Can you help me??

Olive Tree Answer: Hi Donna - Another contender for briefest query :-) Have you checked for Anna in the 1906 census for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta? You can do that online at AutomatedGenealogy.com. The 1916 census for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta on Ancestry.com should also be helfpul to you. There is a nice candidate there, an Anna Bella Steele born circa 1912 in Saskatchewan.

Don't overlook the 1901 and 1911 census for all of Canada. They are available on Ancestry.com, AutomatedGenealogy.com, some for 1901 are on AllCensusRecords.com and some on the Ontario GenWeb Census Project pages.