For directions on reading the variable description see Data Dictionary Introduction.

Availability: 
 

1850	1860	1870	1880	1900	1910	1920	1940	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990
X	X	X	X			X

M User Caution: NAMELAST is an alphabetic variable. 

Universe: 
All persons. 

Description/Comparability: 
NAMELAST is an alphabetic variable giving the first 16 letters of the person's last name as the enumerator recorded it on the census form. A question mark embedded in a name indicates an illegible character. A question mark and space preceding a name means that the entry was difficult to read and the name is the best interpretation possible. An exclamation point indicates the entire entry was illegible. An asterisk indicates the field was blank. 

This variable is fully comparable across years. 

Flags: QNAMELST 

Codes: 

See text above. 

Census Questions:
1850   1860   1870   1880   1920

Enumerator Instructions:
1850   1860   1870   1880   1920