Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Ancestry® Survey: The 1950 U.S. Census and Understanding More Recent Family History

 I received this from Ancestry.com this morning:

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Ancestry® Survey: The 1950 U.S. Census and Understanding More Recent Family History

Summary: In a recent survey conducted for Ancestry®, it is clear many Americans surveyed don’t know key information about more recent family history–and it varies by city. Many Americans are interested in learning stories about when their ancestors were young and what their life was like. However, while many don’t know a lot about their family’s past, they want to know more. Fortunately, the 1950 U.S. Census records coming to Ancestry starting April 1 will be a valuable resource for learning about more recent generations, as it offers a snapshot of what a family member's life was like at that moment in time.

Highlights of Findings:

● More than half (53%) of Americans surveyed can’t name all four grandparents, and only 4% can name all eight great-grandparents.

● Not being able to name all four grandparents varies by age and city:  ○ 53% between ages 26-41, 61% between ages 42-57, and only 30% of those ages 58-76 can’t name all four.

○ 66% of those in Boston can name all four grandparents, with Salt Lake City as a close second (56%); only 34% of those from San Francisco and 26% of those in Philadelphia could name all four.

● Despite the knowledge gap, most Americans are interested in learning more about their family history (66%) and over half (51%) want stories about when their ancestors were young and what life was like at a moment in time.

Knowledge Gap of Family History

More than half (53%) of Americans surveyed can’t name all four grandparents.

● This varies by age – with 61% for those ages 42-57, and 53% for those ages 26-41.  It’s evident there’s a knowledge gap when it comes to family history, as more than half (55%) can’t trace their family tree past their grandparents and only 4% of Americans can name all eight great-grandparents.

● The majority learn about it from parents (43%) or grandparents (40%) relaying stories, which can get lost as it is passed on for generations.

Family History Knowledge by City

From the East Coast to the West and all the states in-between, the survey revealed that people in Salt Lake City know the most about their family history and people living in Philadelphia know the least.

● 66% of those in Boston can name all four grandparents, with Salt Lake City as a close second (56%). Only 34% of those from San Francisco and 26% of those in Philadelphia could name all four.

● Nearly half (48%) of people in both Boston and Salt Lake City know the city their grandparents were born in, compared to 27% in San Francisco and 1 in 5 (20%) in Philadelphia.

● When it came to Americans knowing what their grandparents did for work, Los Angeles (45%) and Houston (44%) knew the most, compared to 23% of those in Philadelphia.

● Naming all eight great-grandparents proved to be a challenge for an overwhelming majority across the U.S. (96%), but 11% of respondents in Houston knew all eight names compared to Chicagoans (4%) and those in Los Angeles (3%).

● 69% of surveyed Americans in Boston know what country or countries their family came to America from, with many in New York City knowing too (63%), but only 30% of those in Philadelphia knew.

What People Want to Learn from the 1950 Census

Despite an evident knowledge gap of more recent family history, U.S. adults did express interest in learning more, with two-thirds (66%) saying they wish they knew additional information about their family history.

● When it came to what they were interested in learning, more than half (51%) would like to know stories of their ancestors when they were young and what their life was like at a moment in time.

● More than two in five (41%) want to learn about the hardships their ancestors went through and overcame, and their ancestors’ connection to historical events (46%). Additionally, 42% would like to know where their last name comes from or what it means.

When it comes to exploring the 1950 U.S. Census records, people are most interested to learn their ancestors’:

● Employment details (including salary, status and hours worked) (38%)

● Occupations (35%)

● Names (34%)

● Ages (34%)

● Home Addresses (32%)

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Survey Methodology

Data from a survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Ancestry from March 17 to March 22, 2022, with a panel of 2,113 Americans, including 1,911 from top 10 DMAs and 202 from Salt Lake City, UT.

More information on the 1950 U.s. Census release is available at https://www.ancestry.com/c/1950-census.

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Disclosure: I receive a complimentary all-access subscription from Ancestry.com, for which I am thankful. Ancestry.com has provided material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/03/ancestry-survey-1950-us-census-and.html

Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver

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