History

Genealogy FAQs

Can inaccurate information be corrected on census records?

Although there are frequently inaccuracies in census records, the records can not be corrected because they are historic documents. Our advice to genealogists who find inaccuracies is to make a note in their family history that the census record may contain errors. Future generations may benefit from this note. They may also find an interesting story for why the census record is wrong. Sometimes, families deliberately provided inaccurate information to "Americanize" their names, deny the existence of a child born out of wedlock, or not identify their true racial background. These inaccurate responses reflect the era's feelings about race, ethnicity, and a host of other social conditions that can enlighten future generations.

A Census Bureau employee reviews census records in the 1920s.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress