-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BWV03Z69lqv3QX6uKcZH8ZqvsTS4QaAat385zy6CmENO7c3VF9fxdFxVgjTEg+vp
 V1f+Iyai10sL7BUtOHQ4Pg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246197-04-000060.txt : 20040819
<SEC-HEADER>0001246197-04-000060.hdr.sgml : 20040819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040819113949
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246197-04-000060
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040818
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040819

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONNABEND STEPHANIE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246243

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15752
		FILM NUMBER:		04985554

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HIGHLEY & HIGLEY
		STREET 2:		171 THIRD STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02141

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTURY BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812348
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				042498617
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 MYSTIC AVENUE
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01887
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173934606

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 MYSTIC AVE
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01887
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>son335.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812348</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTURY BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNBKA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246243</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SONNABEND STEPHANIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 MYSTIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02155</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>88.2143</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.2800</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1872.2789</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Paul V. Cusick, Jr., Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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