What does Ab by the name mean on a census?

Question

I am researching a 16 year old who I expected to find with his parents in 1930 as he was 16.  However, he shows up by himself with no job.  I noticed there are a number of people in the list with him who have Ab written on the line at the end of their name.  They do not seem to be living in the same place nor are they in an institution or such together.  What does Ab stand for?

Comments

Understanding the 1930 census

http://www.genealogytoday.com/columns/ruby/030111.html

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Thanks for the information link, Eddie.

Answer 1

I'm pretty sure it means temporarily "absent" at the time the Census was taken.

Comments

But why wouldn't he be listed with the family, and just marked absent?  The family is no where in sight.

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He could have been working away from home, visiting friends for a long period of time - all sorts of reasons. Unfortunately we don't get that kind of info in the Census. I wish we did though. ;-)

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Thanks, Susanna.  Eddie's link above verifies what you were saying.