France Record Finder

France Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
France Background
Local Research Resources

This table can help you decide which records to search using the following steps:

Step 1. In column 1, find your goal.

Step 2. In column 2, find the types of records most likely to have the information you need.

Step 3. In column 3, find additional records that may be useful.

What you are looking for: Try these records first: Other useful records:a
Age Civil Registration, Church Records, Notarial Records, Schools Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration
Birth date and birthplace Civil Registration, Church Records, Notarial Records, Jewish Records Census, Military Records, Cemeteries, Biography
City or parish of foreign birth Naturalization and Citizenship Emigration and Immigration
Boundaries (province, canton, arrondissement, department) Gazetteers, Maps, History Historical Geography, Church History
Death Civil Registration, Church Records, Notarial Records, Jewish Records Cemeteries, Probate Records, Biography
Emigration information Emigration and Immigration Societies, Minorities
Historical background History, Church History Maps, Minorities
Language helps Language and Languages
Living relatives Directories, Genealogy Societies, Periodicals
Maiden name Civil Registration, Church Records Notarial Records
Marriage Civil Registration,Church Records Notarial Records, Biography
Naming Customs Names (Personal) Genealogy, Periodicals
Occupations Directories, Church Records, Census Emigration and Immigration, Military Records
Parents, children, and other family members Civil Registration,Church Records, Genealogy, Societies, Nobility Probate Records, Notarial Records, Heraldry, Biography
Physical description Military Records, Biography Emigration and Immigration
Place-finding aids Gazetteers, Maps Historical Geography
Place of residence Civil Registration, Directories, Emigration and Immigration Census, Voting Registers, Schools, Taxation
Previous research (compiled genealogy) Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies, Church History Biography, History, Nobility, Heraldry, Minorities
Record-finding aids Archives and Libraries, Church History Societies, Periodicals, Minorities
Religion Civil Registration, Church Records

Minorities,Cemeteries