Daily AncestorSample line
A sample line was a marked line on the 1940 and 1950 census schedules; only the person who fell on it was asked extra questions at the bottom of the page.
In 1940 two of the 40 lines on each side were sample lines, marked Suppl. Quest. The person on them was asked parents' birthplaces, mother tongue, veteran status, Social Security and more, which gave a 5 percent sample.
In 1950 the questions at the bottom went to one person in five on the sample lines, and the last sample line had still more. If your ancestor sits on such a line, check the bottom of the page for a richer entry.
As seen in a recordSupplementary questions at the bottom of a 1940 schedule
Line 14 (Suppl. Quest.): Hollis, Ruth | Father born: Ohio | Mother born: Indiana | Mother tongue: English
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Sample line." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/census-terms/sample-line. Last checked 2026-10-03.