How to Make Sense of Census Abbreviations

No matter where in the world they are taken, census schedules usually offer very little room. Therefore, census takers often found it necessary to use abbreviations to get all of the required information onto the census form. These abbreviations – ranging from Na for naturalized to AdD for adopted daughter — can provide important information that may be critical to your research.

Citizenship Status Census Abbreviations

• Al - Alien (not naturalized)
• Pa - First papers filed (declaration of intent)
• Na - Naturalized
• NR - Not recorded or not reported

Household & Soundex Abbreviations

• Ad - Adopted Ad
• AdCl - Adopted Child
• AdD - Adopted Daughter
• AdGcl - Adopted Grandchild
• AdM - Adopted Mother
• AdS - Adopted Son
• Ap - Apprentice
• At - Attendant
• Asst - Assistant
• A - Aunt
• Al - Aunt-In-Law
• Bar - Bartender
• Bo - Boarder
• B Boy - Bound Boy
• B Girl - Bound Girl
• B - Brother
• Bl - Brother-In-Law
• Bu - Butler
• Cap - Captain
• Cha - Chambermaid
• Cl - Child
• Coa - Coachman
• Com - Companion
• C - Cousin
• Cil - Cousin-In-Law
• D - Daughter
• Dl - Daughter-In-Law
• Dla - Day Laborer
• Dw - Dish Washer
• Dom - Domestic
• Emp - Employee
• En - Engineer
• FaH - Farm Hand
• FaL - Farm Laborer
• FaW - Farm Worker
• F - Father
• Fl - Father-In-Law
• Fi - Fireman
• First C - First Cousin
• FoB - Foster Brother
• FB - Foster Brother
• FoSi - Foster Sister
• FS - Foster Sister
• FoS - Foster Son
• God Child God
• Go - Governess
• Gcl - Grandchild
• Gd - Granddaughter
• Gf - Grandfather
• GM - Grandmother
• Gml - Grandmother-In-Law
• Gs - Grand Son
• Gsl - Grand Son-In-Law
• GGF - Great Grandfather
• GGM - Great Grandmother
• GGGF - Great Great Grandfather
• GGGM - Great Great Grandmother
• Gni - Great- or Grandniece
• Gn - Great- or Grandnephew
• Gua - Guardian
• HSi - Half Sister
• HSil - Half Sister-In-Law
• Hb - Half Brother
• Hbl - Half Brother-In-Law
• Help - Helper
• He - Herder
• HGi - Hired Girl
• HH - Hired Hand
• Hlg - Hireling
• Hk - Housekeeper
• HMaid - Housemaid
• Hw - House Worker
• La- Laborer
• Lau - Laundry
• L - Lodger
• Man - Manager
• Mat - Matron
• M - Mother
• Ml - Mother-In-Law
• N - Nephew
• Nl - Nephew-In-Law
• Ni - Niece
• Nil - Niece-In-Law
• Ni - Nurse
• O - Officer
• Pa - Partner
• P - Patient
• Ph - Physician
• Por - Porter
• Pri - Principal
• Pr - Prisoner
• Prv - Private
• Pu - Pupil
• R - Roomer
• Sa - Sailor
• Sal - Saleslady
• Se - Servant
• SeCl - Servant's Child
• Si - Sister
• S - Son
• Sl - Son-In-Law
• Sb - Step Brother
• Sbl - Step Brother-In-Law
• Scl - Step Child
• Sd - Step Daughter
• Sdl - Step Daughter-In-Law
• Sf - Step Father
• Sfl - Step Father-In-Law
• Sgd - Step Granddaughter
• Sgs - Step Grandson
• Sm - Step Mother
• Sml - Step Mother-In-Law
• Ssi - Step Sister
• Ssil - Step Sister-In-Law
• Ss - Step Son
• Ssl - Step Son-In-Law
• Su - Superintendent
• Ten - Tenant
• U - Uncle
• Ul - Uncle-In-Law
• Vi - Visitor
• Wt - Waiter
• Wai - Waitress
• Wa - Warden
• W - Wife
• Wkm - Workman

Language and Nativity Census Codes

• X0 - foreign born
• X9 - born at sea

Military Status

From column 30 of the 1910 census:

• UA - Survivor of the Union Army
• UN - Survivor of the Union Navy
• CA - Survivor of the Confederate Army
• CN - Survivor of the Confederate Navy