During the 1700s, also known as the 18th century, families tended to be much larger than they are today. The average number of children per family during this time period ranged from 4-8 kids. However, the exact number varied significantly depending on factors like social class, region, era, and individual circumstances.
In early America and Europe, it was common for families to have many children due to high infant and child mortality rates. More kids ensured that at least some would survive to adulthood and be able to work and provide for aging parents. There were no effective forms of birth control, so couples continued having children regularly until the wife went through menopause. Rural families tended to be larger than urban ones since having more kids provided free farm labor.
Average Family Size By Region
America
In colonial America, the average family had 7-10 children. Rural farm families needed more children to help with laborious tasks like planting, harvesting, building, textiles, candle making, animal care, cooking, and more. Children were economic assets in agrarian society. More populous households could produce more goods for their own use and to trade or sell.
Urban families in colonial seaports and cities tended to average 5-7 children because they did not rely on agriculture. Space was more limited in towns and infants had higher mortality rates from diseases.
Here is an overview of average family size in 18th century America:
| Region | Average # of Children Per Family |
|---|---|
| Rural Farm Families | 7-10 |
| Urban Families | 5-7 |
Europe
In Europe, family size during the 1700s also depended on factors like social class, era, religion, and profession but averaged 4-6 children per household.
The poorest families, like landless peasants and laborers, tended to have the most children at 6-8 per family. Children could help with work and were insurance against starvation if parents could not provide.
The emerging middle class, like skilled craftsmen and merchants, averaged 4-6 kids as children could be trained in their professions. However, families did not rely on their labor for sustenance.
The aristocracy and gentry families averaged 3-4 children as they did not need more heirs or labor and had access to wet nurses. Infant mortality was lower.
Here is an overview of 18th century European family size:
| Class | Average # of Children |
|---|---|
| Peasants/Laborers | 6-8 |
| Middle Class | 4-6 |
| Elite/Aristocracy | 3-4 |
Changes Over Time
The average family size declined over the course of the 1700s in both America and Europe. Here were some key factors:
1. Lower infant mortality
Infant and child mortality remained high but began to incrementally decline in the 1700s, especially in wealthier households. This meant families did not need to have as many children to ensure some would survive.
2. Later marriages
The average age of first marriage increased to the mid-20s for women and late 20s for men by the end of the century. Couples had fewer childbearing years.
3. Use of wet nurses
Wealthier women would use other women as wet nurses to increase spacing between children. This lowered fertility rates.
4. Family planning
Primitive forms of contraception and abortion began to appear, allowing for more family planning.
5. Changing economics
As economies shifted away from subsistence agriculture, children were less needed for labor. Urbanization and trade also decreased reliance on family production.
6. New inheritances laws
Laws like primogeniture limited inheritance claims to the firstborn son, decreasing pressure for multiple sons.
By the end of the 1700s, the average family size dropped by 1-2 children across North America and Europe. Rural families remained larger than urban ones. Poorer households still exceeded wealthier ones. But the trend toward smaller families had begun.
Average Number of Children Based on Social Class
Beyond just regional differences, social class also impacted average family size in the 18th century.
Peasants and Laborers
As mentioned earlier, peasant and unskilled laborer families tended to have the most children at 6-8 per household. Tiny cottages and huts overflowed with children sleeping on floors, attics, lofts, and anywhere else space could be found.
Children could help with tasks like gathering firewood, hauling water, digging peat, tending livestock, and begging from a young age. Daughters assisted mothers with cooking, cleaning, mending, spinning, weaving, and caring for siblings. Having more kids provided labor and old-age social security for impoverished parents.
Skilled Craftsmen and Merchants
These working-class families averaged 4-6 children as youngsters could be apprenticed into their fathers’ trades. However, they did not provide essential farm labor so families remained smaller than rural peasant ones.
Lesser Gentry and Professionals
Middle class families sought to emulate the lifestyles of the upper class. Wives focused more on household management and gentility rather than manual labor. Families averaged 3-5 children.
Upper Classes
Elite aristocratic and noble families had the fewest children at 2-4 per household. Some wealthy women used birth control methods and abortives available to limit family size. Nurses breastfed infants rather than the mothers. Lower fertility and infant mortality kept numbers down.
Here is an overview of how average family size differed by social class in 18th century Europe:
| Social Class | Average # of Children |
|---|---|
| Peasants/Laborers | 6-8 |
| Skilled Craftsmen/Merchants | 4-6 |
| Lesser Gentry/Professionals | 3-5 |
| Aristocracy/Nobility | 2-4 |
Average Number of Children Based on Era in the 1700s
Family size also gradually declined over the course of the 18th century. The averages were:
Early 18th Century
In the early decades from 1700-1740, the average family had 6-8 children, even among the elite. Infant mortality remained very high, contraception was primitive, and marriages occurred at young ages. Rural families remained larger to provide agricultural labor.
Mid 18th Century
From 1741-1770, family sizes began to incrementally shrink. An emerging middle class emulated the upper class. Trade and urbanization increased. Average family size was 5-7 children during this period.
Late 18th Century
During the last few decades from 1771-1800, the declining family size trend accelerated. Enlightenment ideals promoted parental investment in child quality over quantity. Infant mortality declined as medicine and hygiene improved. Delayed marriage and contraception became more common. Average family size was 4-6 kids.
Here is an overview of how average family size changed over the course of the 1700s:
| Era | Average # of Children |
|---|---|
| Early 18th Century | 6-8 |
| Mid 18th Century | 5-7 |
| Late 18th Century | 4-6 |
Factors Influencing Family Size
Many factors influenced average family size during the 1700s beyond region, class, and era. Here are some of the top influences:
1. Economics
As mentioned earlier, rural farm families tended to be larger to provide more labor. Poorer families had more kids to increase chances some would survive and provide support. Emerging trades allowed middle class families to have fewer children.
2. Infant and Child Mortality
High death rates in infancy and childhood encouraged couples to have more children to ensure heirs and family survival. As mortality declined, family size shrank.
3. Contraception
Conception regulation methods were primitive but growing. Withdrawal, abstinence, abortion, crude condoms and diaphragms helped limit family size, especially among the upper class.
4. Age of Marriage
Later average age of first marriage, especially among the elite, meant fewer total childbearing years per couple. Teen pregnancies became less common by the end of the century.
5. Wet Nursing
Wealthier women using other lactating women as wet nurses to breastfeed their infants increased spacing between children through lactational amenorrhea.
6. Inheritance Laws
Primogeniture limited heirs which decreased pressure for multiple sons among the gentry. Impoverished families still sought more male offspring for support.
7. Religion
Some Christian sects like Catholics encouraged large families. Others like Protestants had fewer prohibitions against family planning methods. Religiosity influenced size norms.
8. Education
Enlightenment era ideals spread that parents should focus more on child-rearing quality rather than quantity. The rise of girls’ schooling also contributed to declining fertility.
9. Disease
Epidemics continued to strike communities sporadically, wiping out many children rapidly. This reinforced the trend toward larger family size for safety. Quarantines and sanitation improvements helped lower childhood contagious disease mortality by the end of the century.
10. Wars and Displacement
Wars and unstable living conditions deterred childbearing and broke up families through conscription and displacement. Tumultuous events encouraged smaller families while peacetime allowed for population growth.
Smaller Family Conclusion
In conclusion, average family size ranged from 4-8 children across regions, eras, classes and individual circumstances during the 1700s. Rural families exceeded urban ones. Poorer households surpassed richer ones.
But by the end of the century, average family size had begun a steady decline due to lowering childhood mortality rates, delayed marriage, primitive family planning, economics shifts, inheritance laws, evolving ideals, and relative peace/stability. The trend toward smaller families would continue into the next century.