Figure 1.5

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.