1871 Percentage of Population of Irish Origin by County
Statistics were taken from Canada’s 1871 census showing by
county the percentage of the New Brunswick population which was of Irish
origin. The Federal census was the first to record both birth and origin.
Previous New Brunswick censuses recorded only country of birth. They did not
record the ethnicity of those who were born in New Brunswick but whose parents
were immigrants. The 1871 census is important then, as it captures those who
were born in New Brunswick but claim ethnic roots fromgenerations past. Among the interesting statistics revealed by the 1871
census is that 58% of Saint John County’s population was of Irish ethnicity.