Daily AncestorHead
Head in a census is the person listed first for a household, usually the husband or father, against whom everyone else's relationship is given.
From 1790 to 1840 the head of the family was the only person named; everyone else in the house was just a tally by age and sex. From 1850 every free person was named, starting with the head.
From 1880 a column gave each person's relationship to the head. The instructions say the head could be a husband or father, a widow, or an unmarried person of either sex. In an institution the chief officer was listed by title, such as warden or superintendent, instead of Head.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Head." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/census-terms/head-of-family. Last checked 2026-10-03.