-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LsRI3cfnQn0GiTYs0msULbvKEQC1dgFaWkafiuEvT+F/BbUtdkkAI7q4ofhzu3LS
 gd8/umrv8M/9ZwXkcHxjzA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001323781-09-000038.txt : 20090212
<SEC-HEADER>0001323781-09-000038.hdr.sgml : 20090212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090212155126
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001323781-09-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090212
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090212

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOONTON DAVID B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246204

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15752
		FILM NUMBER:		09594676

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CENTURY BANK & TRUST CO
		STREET 2:		400 MYSTIC AVE
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02155

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>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>woo733.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246204</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOONTON DAVID B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 MYSTIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02155</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Executive Vice President</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Century Bancorp Class A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.8300</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding></transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-09-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Century Bancorp Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.5000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding></transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-04-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-04-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Century Bancorp Class A Common ISO</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.6800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding></transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Century Bancorp Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.0630</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding></transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: William P. Hornby, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----