Daily AncestorOrphan asylum
An orphan asylum was a children's institution, usually run by a church or charity, that housed orphaned, half-orphaned and destitute children.
Orphan asylums multiplied in the 1800s: about seven in 1800, more than 70 by the 1850s and over 600 by 1880, after the Civil War added many. Most were private, run by religious and charitable groups, though cities often helped pay. New York's Orphan Asylum Society dates from 1806.
Many children in them had a living parent who could not support them. From the mid-1800s asylums also placed children out with families, so registers can show where a child went next.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Orphan asylum." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/poor-relief/orphan-asylum. Last checked 2026-10-03.