Massachusetts Census Records Online includes Federal and State censuses. Census records (especially when indexed) are one of the easiest ways to find family members and track individuals over their lifetime.
US Census Records
In the United States, federal censuses are taken every 10 years and these records are made public 72 after the census is taken. US Censuses began in 1790 and the most recent census available is the 1950 census. Most of the 1890 census was destroyed by fire, but parts remain and you can use other records as census substitutes.
HINT: You can look at federal (1870-1920) census records to see if your ancestor was naturalized and if they were, visit Washington D.C. Naturalization Records online.
HINT: Between 1790 and 1840, only the head of household is named in the census.
HINT: Between 1850 and present, all people living in a household are named in the census.
HINT: Between 1850 and 1880 there are census mortality schedules listing who died in the year before the census was taken.
TIP – Login with your free FamilySearch account to unlock some collections — see other tips for opening FS resources.
US level Census Records
US – 1790 – United States Census 1790, index & images, at FS
US – 1800 – United States Census, 1800, index & images, at FS
US – 1810 – United States Census, 1810, index & images, at FS
US – 1820 – United States Census, 1820, at FS, index & images
US – 1820 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1830 – United States Census, 1830, at FS, index & images
US – 1830 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1840 – United States Census, 1840, at FS, index & images
US – 1840 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1850 – United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850, at FS, index & images
US – 1850 – United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850, at FS, index & images
US – 1850 – United States Census, 1850, at FS, index & images
US – 1850 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1850 United States Federal Census (Slave Schedule), at MH
US – 1850 United States Federal Census (Mortality Schedule), at MH
US – 1860 – United States Census, 1860, at FS, index & images
US – 1860 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1870 – United States Census, 1870, at FS, index & images
US – 1870 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1880 – United States Census, 1880, at FS, index & images
US – 1880 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1885-1940 – United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940, at FS
US – 1890 – United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890, at FS, index & images
US – 1890 – United States Census, 1890, at FS, index & images
US – 1890 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1900 – United States Census, 1900, at FS, index & images
US – 1900-1940 – United States Enumeration District Maps for the Twelfth through the Sixteenth US Censuses, 1900-1940, at FS
US – 1900 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1908-1910 – United States, Native American, Eastern Cherokee Enrollment Records, 1908-1910, index links to images
US – 1910 – United States Census, 1910, at FS, index & images
US – 1910 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1920 – United States Census, 1920, at FS, index & images
US – 1920 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1930 – United States Census of Merchant Seamen, 1930, at FS, index
US – 1930 – United States Census, 1930, at FS, index & images
US – 1930 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1930 United States Census of Merchant Seamen, at MH
US – 1940 – United States Census, 1940, at FS, index & images
US – 1940 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1950 – United States Census, 1950, at FS, index & images
Massachusetts Census Records online at the state level
Massachusetts – 1630 – 1691 – List of freemen, Massachusetts Bay colony from 1630 to 1691, with freeman’s oath, the first paper printed in New England, at FS
Massachusetts – 1643 – 1765 – Early census making in Massachusetts, 1643-1765 : with a reproduction of the lost census of 1765 (recently found) and documents relating thereto, at FS
Massachusetts – 1765 – Early census making in Massachusetts, 1643-1765 : with a reproduction of the lost census of 1765 (recently found) and documents relating thereto, at FS
Massachusetts – 1790 – [Littlefields in 1790 census, Massachusetts and Connecticut], at FS
Massachusetts – 1790 – 1840 – Massachusetts, 1790 thru 1840 federal census : population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1790 – Census schedules, 1790, at FS
Massachusetts – 1790 – Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790, Massachusetts, at FS
Massachusetts – 1790 – Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790, Massachusetts, at FS
Massachusetts – 1790 – Massachusetts Census 1790, at FS
Massachusetts – 1840 – Historical collections : being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions, at FS
Massachusetts – 1840 – Historical collections : being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions, at FS
Massachusetts – 1850 – Massachusetts, 1850 federal census : population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1850 – Schedule 3. Persons who died during the year ending 1st June, 1850 : federal nonpopulation census schedules for Massachusetts, at FS
Massachusetts – 1855 – Massachusetts state census, 1855-1865, at FS
Massachusetts – 1855 – Massachusetts State Census, 1855, index & images, at FS
Massachusetts – 1857-1920 – Massachusetts, City of Boston Voter Registers, 1857-1920, index links to images, at FS
Massachusetts – 1860 – Massachusetts, 1860 federal census : population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1860 – Schedule 3. Persons who died during the year ending 1st June, 1860 : federal nonpopulation census schedules for Massachusetts, at FS
Massachusetts – 1865 – Massachusetts state census, 1855-1865, at FS
Massachusetts – 1865 – Massachusetts State Census, 1865, index & images, at FS
Massachusetts – 1870 – Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass. : including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874, at FS
Massachusetts – 1870 – Massachusetts, 1870 federal census : population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1870 – Massachusetts, federal census mortality schedule, 1870, at FS
Massachusetts – 1870 – Massachusetts, Federal Census Mortality Schedule, 1870, images, at FS
Massachusetts – 1870 – Schedule 5. Social statistics for the year ending June 1, 1870. Schedule 2. Persons who died during the year ending 1st June, 1870 : federal nonpopulation census schedules for Massachusetts, at FS
Massachusetts – 1870 – Schedule 5. Social statistics for the year ending June 1, 1870. Schedule 2. Persons who died during the year ending 1st June, 1870 : federal nonpopulation census schedules for Massachusetts, at FS
Massachusetts – 1880 – Massachusetts, 1880 federal census : soundex and population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1880 – Massachusetts, Federal Census Mortality Schedule, 1880, images, at FS
Massachusetts – 1880 – Massachusetts, federal census mortality schedule, 1880, at FS
Massachusetts – 1880 – Schedule 5. Persons who died during the year ending May 31, 1880 : federal nonpopulation census schedules for Massachusetts, at FS
Massachusetts – 1900 – Massachusetts, 1900 federal census : soundex and population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1900 – Massachusetts, 1900 federal census : soundex and population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1910 – Massachusetts, 1910 federal census : population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1920 – Massachusetts, 1920 federal census : soundex and population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1920 – Massachusetts, 1920 federal census : soundex and population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts – 1930 – Massachusetts, 1930 federal census : population schedules ; NARA microfilm publication T626, at FS
Massachusetts – 1940 – Massachusetts, 1940 population census : population schedules, at FS
Massachusetts Census Records online at the county level
Plymouth County – Census – Plymouth Colony Records, Indian Deeds, Treasurers Accounts, Lists of Freemen, 1666-1682, at FS
Massachusetts Census Records online at the city level
Ashby – Census – 1810 – Third and Fourth Censuses, 1810 -1820, District of Mass., Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pepperell, at FS
Ashby – Census – 1820 – Third and Fourth Censuses, 1810 -1820, District of Mass., Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pepperell, at FS
Beverly – Census – 1830 – Census of the Town of Beverly, June 1830, at FS
Boston – Census – 1790 – A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, at FS
Bridgewater – Directories – Brockton and Bridgewaters Directory : of the Inhabitants, Business Firms, Institutions, Manufacturing Establis Hments, Societies, Streets, State Census, House Directory, with Map, Etc ., No. XXVIII, at FS
Brockton – Directories – Brockton and Bridgewaters Directory : of the Inhabitants, Business Firms, Institutions, Manufacturing Establis Hments, Societies, Streets, State Census, House Directory, with Map, Etc ., No. XXVIII, at FS
Essex – Census – 1912 – Register of the Towns of Manchester, Essex, Hamilton, and Wenham, Massachusetts, 1912, at FS
Fall River – Census – 1910 – City of Fall River, at FS
Fall River – Census – 1920 – Plan of the City of Fall River, Massachusetts, 1903, at FS
Hamilton – Census – 1912 – Register of the Towns of Manchester, Essex, Hamilton, and Wenham, Massachusetts, 1912, at FS
Hopedale – Census – 1963 – List of Names of Men and Women, Town of Hopedale, January 1, 1963 : As Required by Chapter 51 of the General Laws and Any Amendments Thereto, Aliens Listed by Nationality, at FS
Leyden – Cemeteries – Cemetery Records of Leyden, Franklin County, Mass. to 1875 : to Which is Appended a List of the Names of the Heads of Families Listed in the 1810 and 1820 Census Records, at FS
Leyden – Census – 1810 – Cemetery Records of Leyden, Franklin County, Mass. to 1875 : to Which is Appended a List of the Names of the Heads of Families Listed in the 1810 and 1820 Census Records, at FS
Leyden – Census – 1820 – Cemetery Records of Leyden, Franklin County, Mass. to 1875 : to Which is Appended a List of the Names of the Heads of Families Listed in the 1810 and 1820 Census Records, at FS
Manchester – Census – 1912 – Register of the Towns of Manchester, Essex, Hamilton, and Wenham, Massachusetts, 1912, at FS
Nantucket – Census – 1810 – Macy’s Collection, 1658-1855 (approx.), at FS
Nantucket – Census – 1830 – Nantucket, Massachusetts, 1830 Census, at FS
New Bedford – Census – 1910 – Maps – City of New Bedford [1910] : Ward[s 1-6], at FS
New Bedford – Census – 1920 – Maps – City of New Bedford [1920] : Ward[s 1-6], at FS
Pepperell – Census – 1810 – Third and Fourth Censuses, 1810 -1820, District of Mass., Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pepperell, at FS
Pepperell – Census – 1820 – Third and Fourth Censuses, 1810 -1820, District of Mass., Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pepperell, at FS
Rehoboth – Census – 1790 – Rehoboth, Mass. U. S. Census of 1790, at FS
Shirley – Census – 1820 – Third and Fourth Censuses, 1810 -1820, District of Mass., Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pepperell, at FS
Townsend – Census – 1810 – Third and Fourth Censuses, 1810 -1820, District of Mass., Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pepperell, at FS
Townsend – Census – 1820 – Third and Fourth Censuses, 1810 -1820, District of Mass., Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pepperell, at FS
Wenham – Census – 1912 – Register of the Towns of Manchester, Essex, Hamilton, and Wenham, Massachusetts, 1912, at FS
Comments