Canadian census records might be recorded in English, in French, or in a combination of both languages.
Here’s an example of a French-English combination, from the 1901 census of Ottawa (see right; click thumbnail preview to enlarge). This is the household of Alexander Michael Moran, with his wife Anna Maria Benton; his sons Allan Jerome and Orville Alexander Moran; his sister Emma (Mary Emilia Moran) Lenahan; and his sister-in-law Margaret Anne Benton. The six members of this household were listed with a combination of English and French descriptors, some of which were as follows:
| Name | Relationship to Household Head |
Racial or Tribal Origin |
Mother Tongue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Moran | Chef [Head] | Irish | Anglais [English] |
| Anna Moran | épouse [wife] | “ | “ |
| Allan Jerome Moran | fils [son] | “ | “ |
| Alex Moran | fils [son] | “ | “ |
| Emma Lannehan | Dom [domestique/domestic] | “ | Anglais [English] |
| Maggie Benton | Dom [domestique/domestic] | “ | “ |
Again, this French-English language combination was entirely typical of records originating from and/or pertaining to the Ottawa Valley.
A few terms of relationship in translation (with terms relating to origins/ethnicity, and to occupation, to follow):
A Few Terms of Relationship in Translation
| French | English |
|---|---|
| beau-frère | brother-in-law |
| beau-père | father-in-law (in relation to spouse) stepfather (in relation to child) |
| belle fille | daughter-in-law stepdaughter |
| belle-mère | mother-in-law (in relation to spouse) stepmother (in relation to child) |
| belle-soeur | sister-in-law |
| chef | head |
| domestique | domestic; domestic servant |
| épouse | wife |
| fille | daughter |
| fille adoptive | foster daughter adopted daughter |
| fils | son |
| fils adoptif | foster son adopted son |
| frère | brother |
| mère | mother |
| neveau | nephew |
| nièce | niece |
| oncle | uncle |
| pensionnaire | lodger |
| père | father |
| soeur | sister |
| tante | aunt |
Hi, Are you going to do the entry on translating your Canadian ancestors French marriage records?(The baptismal entry was VERY helpful!) Thanks!
Thanks! Yes, I will also do an entry on translating French marriage records.