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In depth
A census record is a government document recording the population at a specific time, including names, ages, places of birth, occupations, and citizenship status. Census records are taken every 10 years in most countries (US, UK, Canada, etc.).
For CBD cases, census records can establish: (1) the ancestor's residence in a given year, (2) the ancestor's citizenship status ('NA' for naturalized, 'PA' for first papers/declaration of intention, 'AL' for alien), and (3) the year of immigration (often recorded in US censuses from 1900 onward).
US census records are available for 1790-1950 (with 72-year privacy restrictions). UK census records are available for 1841-1921. Canadian census records are available for 1851-1921. These records are available through Ancestry, FamilySearch, and national archives.
Related terms
A naturalization record is a government document certifying that a person acquired citizenship by naturalization, critical for CBD cases to determine if the citizenship chain was broken.
NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) is the US national archives, holding federal court naturalization records and other documents relevant to CBD cases.
A long-form birth certificate is a detailed birth certificate that includes the child's and parents' full information, required for most CBD applications.
A short-form birth certificate is a simplified birth certificate showing only the child's basic information, typically not accepted for CBD applications.
A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been verified as a true and accurate copy by the issuing authority, typically required for CBD applications.
A vital record is a government-recorded document that certifies a vital event — birth, marriage, divorce, or death — and is the primary evidence in CBD cases.