Daily AncestorFil
Fil in the census color or race column of 1920 to 1950 means Filipino.
The 1920 census created separate categories for Filipino, Korean and Hindu, groups that 1910 had counted under Other. Fil stayed in the instructions for 1930, 1940 and 1950.
Before 1920, look for Filipinos among the Ot entries of 1910 and in the race written in the margin. From 1920 to 1950 the Fil code makes them easy to spot on the page.
As seen in a recordSex, race and age columns of the 1930 census
Reyes, Jose, Lodger, M, Fil, 24
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Fil." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/abbreviations/census-fil. Last checked 2026-10-10.