I do not speak Russian or Ukrainian and therefore used Fiverr to look for any profiles that might be able to find more information for me in the Russian/Ukrainian archives. I hired Oleksandr (profile) who was able to source this census and provide a translation, kindly providing context in addition.
Background on the census
Before delving into the information above, it is important to state the census records are not always fully accurate for a number of reasons. This journal article highlights the 1897 census in contrast to the 1920 census and shows why the political climate at the time a census is taken may impact its results, in addition to what a government may or may not wish to be recorded. It does not mean that the information in the census should be disregarded, but it should at least be regarded critically.
The website for Genealogy Ukraine explains that the 1897 census was the first of its kind in the Russian Empire and permitted by Tsar Nicholas II. It also breaks down what was being asked (e.g: name, date of birth, any conditions a person may have) and the census results were “processed and published in 89 volumes (119 books)” per Genealogy Ukraine. A Wikipedia article on this census also explains that it was performed in two stages, with the first being filled out by ‘counters’ – the person taking down the information, which included teachers, priests and literate soldiers). It was then verified and updated later.
Information Recorded on the Census
As noted in both the Genealogy Ukraine and Wikipedia articles, the following details were recorded:
- Family name, given name, patronymic* or nickname (прозвище)
- Sex
- Relation with respect to the head of the family or household
- Age
- Marital status
- Social status: sosloviye (estate of the realm), rank or title (сословіе, состояніе, званіе)
- Place of birth
- Place of registration
- Usual place of residence
- Notice of absence
- Faith
- First language (родной язык)
- Literacy
- Occupation (profession, trade, position of office or service), both primary and secondary
Wikipedia further adds: “In the census summary tables, nationality was based on the declared primary language of respondents.”
*Patronymic is the name derived from the name of the father or ancestor. Sacha’s father was named David, therefore Sacha’s patronymic is Davidovich.
A Study of Sacha Zaliouk 
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