Search the 1940 U.S.
Census for FREE*

Discover the 1940s.
All states, all territories, all 132 million people.

Search for your family in our complete
1940 U.S. Census index—for FREE.Discover life in the ’40s.

Almost 9 out of 10 Americans have a relative in the 1940 Census.
Simply start by entering a name and see who you can discover, right now. Start by entering a name and see who you can find.

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Things have changed since the 1940s.

Catch a glimpse of what life was like in the years after the
Great Depression with these statistics pulled from the 1940 Census.

$447

The average annual income

Popular baby names

Barbara, Robert, Patricia, James, Mary, and John

$3,055

The going rate for a typical home

Top two occupations

“Laborer” and “farmer”

Most common surnames

Smith, Johnson, Brown, Williams, and Jones

What was happening in the U.S. in 1940?

From sea to shining sea—and beyond—we’ve found interesting and surprising facts about
the states and territories from the 1940s era. Click on a location to learn more.

Let our experts at Ancestry help you find your family in the 1940 U.S. Census. Watch now