France Research Tips and Strategies
| France Wiki Topics |
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| France Beginning Research |
| Record Types |
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| France Background |
| France Genealogical Word Lists |
| Cultural Groups |
| Local Research Resources |
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Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page |
France Research Strategies
- Getting Started
- France Research Guide
- Finding Records of your Ancestors in France 1792 to 1880
- French Research Brigham Young University Independent Study Online Course
- Online Learning - video classes
- Record Finder - gives suggestions for records to search
Finding Birth Records
Finding Marriage Records
Finding Death Records
Language Helps
France Research Tips
- Civil records are crucial for research in France. Civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1792.
- French citizens of Alsace-Lorraine (Haut Rhin, Bas Rhin, Moselle) often speak German. Many people from this area moved to Russia and the Ukraine and are discussed in Germans from Russia.
Online Learning
- Classes: Finding Your French Ancestors Online
- Online Learning - Other video classes
Record Types and Beginning Dates
| Record Type (English) | Record Type (French) | Records Begin |
|---|---|---|
| Civil registration | Etat civil | 1792 |
| Church records | Registres ecclésiastiques | 1525 |
| Census, population registers and tax lists | Recensement, centième, denier, registres de la taille et autres registres d’impôts seigneuriaux et royaux | 1590 |
| Notarial records | Registres notariaux | 1300 |
| Genealogical collections | Collections généalogiques | 1000 |
| Passenger lists, emigration registers and passports | Rôles des passagers, registres des émigrés, demandes des passeports pour l’étranger et l’intérieur | 1686 |
| Orphan and guardianship records | Tutelles, curatelles, émancipations | 1500 |
| Naturalization and name change records | Lettres de naturalisation et de changements de noms | 1635 |
| Feudal and allegiance records | Fiefs, terriers, aveux, dénombrements, hommages, reconnaissances des tailles; registres de la justice seigneuriale | 1000 |
| Death memorials and cemetery inscriptions | Obituaires, registres des cultes anniversaires des décès, et inscriptions mortuaires | 1400 |
| Military conscriptions, exemptions, deserters | Registres de conscription, dossiers d’exemption, listes des déserteurs | 1800 |
| Burgess rolls and guild records | Registres de bourgeoisie et corporations de métiers | 1300 |
| City directories | Répertoires d’adresses | 1700 |
| Hospital records | Registres des hôtels-Dieu et des hôpitaux | 1700 |
| French colonial records | Registres d’engagement pour les colonies françaises | 1634 |
| Public officials and government employee records | Dossiers personnels des fonctionnaires | 1525 |
| School records | Registres de l’instruction publique, des universités, collèges, sociétés académiques | 1300 |
| Convent records | Registres des monastères, couvents, abbayes, évêchés | 1200 |