Daily AncestorU
U in the 1940 and 1950 census means unable to work, because of permanent disability, chronic illness or old age.
The 1940 census sorted people 14 and older who were not working, not seeking work and not on public emergency work. Enumerators wrote H for housework, S for school, U for unable to work and Ot for other, such as retired people. U was for permanent disability, chronic illness or old age.
The 1950 census kept U among its codes for activity last week. A U next to an older relative may explain why he or she lived with grown children.
As seen in a recordLabor force column of the 1940 census
Pruett, Hiram, Father, M, W, 78 ... U
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "U." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/abbreviations/census-u. Last checked 2026-10-12.