Did you head out to visit your family this summer? Whether you were attending a family reunion, a wedding or an informal get-together, the time spent with
family may have started you thinking about your family history. Did you know that you can discover exciting facts and details about your family by visiting
the Genealogy and Family History pages of the Library and Archives Canada website?
If family history research is new to you, we’re here to help
Begin your search by looking up the following Web pages and use these helpful tips when preparing your quest in family history:
Next, gather the information that you already have in your possession. An attestation paper from the First World War, a marriage certificate, even family pictures can reveal
information about your ancestors.
Talk to your family members and ask questions such as the names of the children in your parents or grandparents families. Did they come to Canada as
immigrants? If so, from which country did they originate? Passenger lists and
their list name indexes can sometimes provide surprising details about a family arriving in Canada.
Now that you have the basics, what else do you need?
A copy of the records in your possession, some writing material (whether in the form of pen and paper or a laptop computer) and a digital camera, will
assist you in documenting your discoveries. Maps of the area where your ancestor was living are also useful in your family history research. For instance,
knowing precisely where your ancestor was living in 1911 or in 1916 (for example, in what county or district) will enable you to find him or her in the Census returns, which contain information such as the profession, date of birth and the siblings living in a given household.
Are you visiting relatives in Ottawa?
If so, visit our Genealogy Services room, located at 395 Wellington Street.
Ensure successful research by watching the video Orientation Services for Clients at 395 Wellington before you
arrive.
Happy research and discoveries!
Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you!
Library and Archives Canada Blog 
Thanks very much for this. Can records for immigrants be searched by the name of the ship they arrived on, along with a year (but not a specific date)?
Yes!
The 1865-1922 Passenger Lists are searchable by name of ship and year of arrival. However that database does not contain a nominal index. Consult the Immigration Records Index for the pertinent links to name indices within a given time period.
You can also search the Quebec City Passenger Lists (1865-1900) database, which contains a nominal index of ocean arrivals at the port of Quebec. For the period from 1925 to 1935, the Immigration Records (1925-1935) database can be searched by name of person, by ship, date (year or specific date) as well as by port of arrival.
Border Entries and early 1920s ocean arrivals
Border Entries,Forms 30A (individual sailing record used in the early 1920s) can also be searched by navigating sequential digital images taken from the microfilm. They are available on our Microform Digitization page.
After 1935
Visit our Citizenship and Immigration page for more information about immigration records after 1935.
Need help?
Maximize your chances of successful findings by reading the Search Help page for each database you consult.
Tip:
Starting with the 1901 census returns, the year of arrival in Canada was a question asked by enumerators when compiling census returns.
For more information, please Ask us a question through our traditional channels. Best of luck with your research!