What the 1921 and 1931 Censuses Reveal About Everyday Life

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When many family historians examine a census record, their eyes immediately focus on the basics: names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces. It’s easy to see these records as little more than lists of facts. However, the 1921 and 1931 Canadian censuses offer much more. With a careful eye, you can uncover hints about how your ancestors lived during a period of significant change in Canada’s history.

By the time the 1921 census was taken, Canada was still recovering from the First World War and the devastating impact of the Spanish flu pandemic. Families were rebuilding their lives in both rural and urban communities. Ten years later, the 1931 census was recorded during the early years of the Great Depression. Work was scarce, household finances were strained, and many families had to adapt to new economic realities. These changing times were reflected in the questions asked in the census. Enumerators recorded information about housing, employment, immigration, and even whether the household owned a radio.

Housing information from the 1921 and 1931 censuses is especially revealing. Questions about whether your ancestor owned or rented their home provide insight into their financial situation. Additional columns can tell you whether the home was mortgaged or free of debt. The type of dwelling also matters. A farmhouse, an apartment in a city, or a single-family house can all suggest different kinds of living conditions.

Information about your ancestor’s occupation and employment adds more details to your family’s everyday life. Was your ancestor employed full-time? Were they out of work but actively seeking employment? Did multiple members of the household work outside the home? These clues reveal how families adapted to economic challenges. A household with several working adults may indicate economic necessity, while one with only one wage earner may reflect different circumstances or opportunities.

Migration and birthplace data can reveal patterns of family movement. You may notice that a family living in Ontario in 1931 originally came from the Maritimes, Quebec, or even the United States. These movements often reflect broader historical trends, such as migration to cities for factory jobs or return migration to family farms during the Depression. Following these clues can help you trace your family’s journey through time and space.

To make the most of these census records, don’t focus only on your ancestor’s household. Look at the whole neighbourhood or community. Did multiple families share a surname or occupation? Were other relatives living nearby? Who were the neighbours? Examining these details can help you identify extended family members in close-knit ethnic or cultural communities. Sometimes, these patterns reveal connections that are not obvious in other records.

Try approaching the 1921 and 1931 censuses more effectively by first looking at your ancestor's household, paying attention to every column, not just names and dates. Then, look at the other households on the page or better yet, five (or more) pages before and after. This will help you place your ancestor's household within their community. Lastly, take time to consider the broader context behind these facts. What was happening historically and economically in their city, town or region?

 

When you read between the lines, a census record becomes much more than a list of names. It becomes a snapshot revealing both the challenges and opportunities of a family's everyday life. These details can further guide your research and deepen your understanding of your family history.

© Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2025. All Rights Reserved.

The Tanned Turkey

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Family traditions aren’t always perfect, but they’re always memorable. 

As we celebrate another Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking about the family stories that make us laugh year after year. Some involve long-lost ancestors, and others, well… involve culinary experiments gone terribly wrong. This is the story of the Tanned Turkey.

I’m not sure if it was Thanksgiving or not, but it seems fitting to share now. My brother was about ten years old when he asked Mom if he could make a turkey for dinner. Wanting to encourage his cooking endeavours and perhaps enjoy a break from cooking herself, Mom agreed.

Off he went into the kitchen, chopping, measuring, and mixing ingredients for the stuffing and the turkey. With a bit of help from Mom, he stuffed the bird and proudly slid it into the oven, quite satisfied with his accomplishment.

Before long, the mouthwatering aroma of roasting turkey filled the house. My brother checked on his creation often, opening the oven door to baste it carefully. When asked how things were going, he cheerfully replied, “Great!”

Finally, Mom announced that the turkey was ready. We all trooped into the kitchen as she lifted the roasting pan from the oven and placed it on the counter. That’s when we noticed something odd. 

The turkey looked like it had one too many tanning pills. It glowed with an orange-y, fake-tan colour. “Turkey isn't supposed to look like that,” I thought to myself. "Ewww, it's orange!" I said, pointing out the obvious.

Mom asked my brother what he had put in the stuffing. “Some of this, some of that, and some Lawry’s® seasoning salt,” he said proudly.

If you’ve ever used that brand, you’ll recall its bright orange colour.

“Oh,” said Mom slowly, trying to hide her concern. “Well, let’s try some before you make the gravy.”

My brother eagerly agreed. Mom carved off a few slices and handed each of us a piece. One bite later, our smiles faded—it was unbelievably salty.

Trying not to crush his feelings, Mom gently asked how much seasoning salt he had used. “I think it called for half a cup,” he replied confidently.

“Half a cup!” Mom gasped. “I think you misread the recipe; it probably said half a teaspoon!”

My poor brother. He had tried so hard. Unfortunately, that much seasoning salt had done more than preserve the bird; it had just about mummified it.

Even so, that bright orange turkey has become one of my favourite family memories. Every Thanksgiving since, we’ve shared the story, laughing together about the Tanned Turkey that was just a little too seasoned.

This year, as I give thanks, I’m grateful not just for good food but for family stories like this one that remind us that even our mishaps can become beloved traditions.

Updated, 2025. Originally published on George Family Gleanings, 2014.

What’s in a Column? Decoding 19th-Century Canadian Census Clues

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    Have you ever scrolled through a Canadian census record and wondered why the government cared so much about a person’s “origin” or whether they could read and write? You’re not alone. Those neat little columns, stretching across the page, hold far more meaning than most family history researchers realize. Between 1871 and 1901, as Canada evolved from a young Dominion into a modern nation, each census reflected what the government wanted to learn about its people.

    In 1871, the first national census after Confederation laid the foundation. Enumerators asked about birthplace, religion, occupation and agriculture. The goal was to understand who made up the country and their contributions to the economy. By 1881, the population had expanded westward, and new questions emerged. Census takers not only recorded the birthplace of each individual but also their racial or ethnic origins, reflecting the country's increasing cultural diversity.

    The 1891 census further refined these details by including “relationship to head of household,” a column in this census that genealogists now rely on to understand the family structure in their ancestral households. Then, in 1901, the census reached a significant milestone. For the first time, Canadians were asked to provide their exact birth dates, their race by colour and the year of immigration and naturalization.

    Often, we focus on finding the right name in the right place at the right time. However, the real discoveries happen when we read between the lines. The columns in the census records reveal details of each individual and the makeup of a household. Collectively, these questions tell the story of how our Canadian society shaped its identity and tracked its progress.

    When we learn to read the census in context, it becomes more than a list of names. It becomes a window into the lives of our Canadian ancestors.

© Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2025. All Rights Reserved.