France Genealogical Records

France Birth & Baptism Records

French Protestant Church Records (1536-1863)

An index to and images of over 100,000 birth, marriage and death records from Protestant churches throughout France.

Miscellaneous Births & Baptisms Index (1534-1983)

A small index to several-hundred-thousand records from select countries.

France Marriage & Divorce Records

French Protestant Church Records (1536-1863)

An index to and images of over 100,000 birth, marriage and death records from Protestant churches throughout France.

Miscellaneous Marriage Index (1662-1945)

An index to more than 30,000 marriage records, including personal details, names of relations and particulars of marriage.

France Death & Burial Records

Jewish Online Worldwide Burial Registry (1550-Present)

A searchable database of over 1 million Jewish burials with photographs of the matzevot.

French Protestant Church Records (1536-1863)

An index to and images of over 100,000 birth, marriage and death records from Protestant churches throughout France.

Newspapers Covering France

Name Card Index to AP Stories (1905-1990)

An index to over 2.1 million people mentioned in Associated Press stories, including name, subject, location, date and a reference to the article.

Newspaper Archive: France (1823-1979)

Text-searchable copies of tens of thousands of French newspaper articles.

Subject Card Index to AP Stories (1937-1985)

An index to around 500,000 Associated Press articles.

AP Stories & Newsfeatures (1937-1985)

An index to and digital images of hundreds-of-thousands of world newspaper articles.

France Wills & Probate Records

British Inheritance Disputes Index (1574-1714)

An index to almost 78,000 wills that were disputed. The index can lead you to documents that may shed a great deal of genealogical information as disputes often arose between siblings and cousins.

France Military Records

UK WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls (1914-1920)

An index to over 6.5 million medals and awards bestowed on British military personnel. The awards are the British War Medal, Allied Victory Medal, 1914 Star, Territorial War Force Medal and Allied Subjects Medal; the latter of which contains many French, Belgians and Dutch.

War Graves Photographic Project (1815-Present)

Photographs of over 1.7 million military graves, largely of British and Commonwealth soldiers Names from monuments have been indexed.

Prisoners of War (1715-1945)

An index to and images records detailing the incarceration of 1.34 million military personnel, civilians, diplomats, missionaries & merchant seamen who were held as prisoners of war. The records cover British prisoners held by foreign powers and non-British prisoners held by Britain.

Normandy Occupation Military Records (1415-1453)

An index to men who served the English crown in the occupation of Normandy. Contains a reference to original documents.

Muster Roll Index (1369-1453)

An index to soldiers whose names occur in early muster rolls. Contains a reference to original documents held at The National Archives. Many men are stationed in France.

British Inheritance Disputes Index (1574-1714)

An index to almost 78,000 wills that were disputed. The index can lead you to documents that may shed a great deal of genealogical information as disputes often arose between siblings and cousins.

US State Department Records for France (1776-1939)

Official reports relating activities of American interest in France, prior to World War II, including accounts of diplomatic visits, political unrest, behind-the-scenes insights, and tales from within the American Embassy.

Calendar of Documents Preserved in France (918-1206)

Abstracts of French records relating to Britain.

US Supreme War Council Records (1914-1918)

The records of the American Section of the Supreme War Council consist of letters, reports, studies, minutes, cablegrams, charts, maps, pamphlets, and books sent to and received from American, French, British, and Italian sources.

France Directories & Gazetteers

CIA World Factbook (1994)

A statistic and descriptive gazetteer of nations.

France, Monaco, Algeria & Morocco Phone Directories (1907)

Details of 150,000 people extracted from early telephone directories. Entries may include name, address, occupation and phone number.

World Foreign Gazetteer (1998)

Useful for locating places, this searchable gazetteer gives brief details, latitude and longitude for more than 1.5 million features, places and regions throughout the world.

Crane's Directory & Buyer's Guide (1899-1900)

A directory listing manufactures in Britain, Europe and Australasia.

France Cemeteries

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

France Histories & Books

Ancestry Member Stories (6000 BC-Present)

Over 7 million remembrances and historic details submitted by Ancestry members. Useful for local historians.

Ancestry Member Photos & Documents (6000 BC-Present)

Over 60 million historic photographs and documents submitted to Ancestry. This rich collection contains many rare sources of interest to local historians and will be relevant to most genealogical research.

France Historical Postcards (1890-1950)

A database containing over 46,000 historical postcards with photos of places in France. Each postcard caption has been indexed and may be searched by keyword or location.

US State Department Records for France (1776-1939)

Official reports relating activities of American interest in France, prior to World War II, including accounts of diplomatic visits, political unrest, behind-the-scenes insights, and tales from within the American Embassy.

The Battle Abbey Roll (1066-1837)

This book covers sources relating to those who accompanied William the conqueror in England with some pedigrees of those families.

France Occupation & Business Records

France Civil & Military Pensions (1836-1862)

This database includes records of pensions paid to over 220,000 military personnel and government employees. Details given may include name, date and place of birth, date of death, particulars of marriage and particulars of children.

Slave Voyages Database (1514-1866)

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database has information on more than 35,000 slave voyages that forcibly embarked over 12 million Africans for transport to the Americas between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Crane's Directory & Buyer's Guide (1899-1900)

A directory listing manufactures in Britain, Europe and Australasia.

Cricket Archive (1844-Present)

A database of cricket scores and players.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering France

Monarch and Nobles of Medieval France (451-1608)

The lineages of French royalty and nobility, with biographical details and extracts from historic documents.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Ancestry Member Family Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A compilation of lineage-linked family trees submitted by Ancestry users. The database contains over 2 billion individuals and is searchable by numerous metrics.

Genealogics (1400 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked families. It largely covers royalty and nobility, but also contains actors, footballers and American presidents.

The Battle Abbey Roll (1066-1837)

This book covers sources relating to those who accompanied William the conqueror in England with some pedigrees of those families.

France Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Monarch and Nobles of Medieval France (451-1608)

The lineages of French royalty and nobility, with biographical details and extracts from historic documents.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Heraldry Clipart (1189-Present)

A growing collection of heraldic and related clip art that can be used to reconstruct a families' arms. Includes packs for British, German, Austrian, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, French, Swiss and Dutch arms. Images are available in a variety of formats including vectors.

Genealogics (1400 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked families. It largely covers royalty and nobility, but also contains actors, footballers and American presidents.

The Battle Abbey Roll (1066-1837)

This book covers sources relating to those who accompanied William the conqueror in England with some pedigrees of those families.

France Church Records

French Protestant Church Records (1536-1863)

An index to and images of over 100,000 birth, marriage and death records from Protestant churches throughout France.

France Maps

Old Maps Online (1497-2010)

An interactive index to thousands of maps covering the world, continents, countries and regions. The majority of maps cover Britain and Ireland.

France Reference Works

Heraldry Clipart (1189-Present)

A growing collection of heraldic and related clip art that can be used to reconstruct a families' arms. Includes packs for British, German, Austrian, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, French, Swiss and Dutch arms. Images are available in a variety of formats including vectors.

Jewish Name Database (1400-Present)

A database containing variants of 100,000s of given names used by Jews.

Historical Description

France is bounded on the North, with Low-Germany; on the North-west, it is washed with the British Ocean; on the West, with the Aquitain Sea; on the South, it is thwarted by the Pyrenean Mountains, which part it from Spain; being toward the East-lickt with the Mediterranean Sea, and on the full East the Alpes divide it from Italy.

The figure of it is almost square, each side of the Quadrature containing 600 miles.

Situation

The Air hereof in the Northern part of France is purer than that of England, and being not covered with Clouds drawn out of the Sea, as England is; for that cause it becomes more cold in Winter, and more hot in Summer, and far less annoyed with mists and rainy weather. But the parts of France lying towards the Pyrenei, and near the Equinoctial Line, are subject to intemperate, yet often allayed by the Winds blowing from the Sea, and by the shadow of the Mountains.

Fertility

It aboundeth with all manner of good Fruits, beside store of fresh Fish; but the chiefest things which draw forrein Coyns unto them, are four especially, Wine, Salt, Linnen coarce Cloth, and Corn. They have plenty of Flax and Hemp, whereof they make Canvas, Sails, Ropes and Cables; neither want they Wool, whereof they make Cloth, though not in quantity to be exported. It also yields Saffron and Oad, for Dying; besides other things of less moment.

Natures, and Manners of the People

The French are very various and unconstant, and in nothing more they shew it, than in their familiarity, with whom a stranger cannot be so soon at his House, but he will be acquainted with him, and as suddenly without occasion loose him again. Also they are great scoffers, and cannot away with patience and modesty. Likewise he is wondrous talkative, so willing is he to make himself ridiculous.

Diet

As well the Gentlemen as the Citizens live more sparingly than the English, in their ordinary private Diet. They dine most with sodden and liquid meats, and sup most with roast; but their feasts are more sumptuous than ours, and consist for the most part of made fantastical meats, and Sallets, and sumptuous Compositions, rather than of flesh or Birds. Their temperancy I cannot commend; for besides dinners and suppers, they use Breakfasts and Bevers, which they call Collations, and Gouster, so eating four times a day.

Apparel

In general Men and Women (excepting Courtiers, and some of the Gentry) wear light stuffs, and rather delicate than sumptuous Garments. Your Countrey people wear close Dublets, with large Breeches, with a large Coat hanging down to their knees, all of light stuffs, and their Wives in like sort attired, have their Heads all over wrapped in linnen.

Buildings

Concerning their Buildings, they are magnificent and stately; for in general all the Towns and Cities in France are fairer than ours in England.

Provinces

The divers Provinces of this Kingdome are many; of which are, Picardy, Normandy, the Isle of France, Beavois, Poictu, Aquitain, Bretaign, Daulphin, Languedock, Provence, Champaigne, Burgundy.

A Geographical Description of the World (1671) by George Meriton

Our nearest neighbour, and has been for many years our second largest customer on the continent of Europe. As our ally in the European conflict, we have been brought into more friendly contact with France than ever before in all our history, and it is confidently expected that our closer relationship will result in a great increase in trade in the future. The French Republic covers an area of 212,659 square miles, and supports a population (1921) of 37,499,394, of which it is estimated 1,000,000 are foreigners, the department of the Seine alone numbering about 220,000. In 1920 the Imports of France from the United Kingdom were valued at £175,747,743, and the Exports to us at £75,836,422. Among the principal articles imported by France from this country are : Coal, cotton yarn, cotton manufactures, woollen manufactures, metals and hardware, leather goods, chemical products, &c. The principal exports to this country comprise woollens, wines and spirits, lace, silks and ribbons, raw silk, hides and skins, leather wares, haberdashery, gloves, etc., and dairy farm, fruit and vegetable produce. Though France is one of the most flourishing of agricultural countries, owing to the fertile soil and generally find climate, her manufactures are numerous and considerable ; and, besides the articles of export enumerated above, mention must be made of the manufactures of jewellery, clocks and watches, motor vehicles, glass, pottery, cabinet-work, carving, flowers and feathers, toys, and the many objects of art and tasteful workmanship comprised under the general head of articles; de Paris. The population of Paris in 1911 was 2,846,986.

The Newspaper Press Directory and Advertisers' Guide (1922)

Most Common Surnames in France

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequency
1Martin314,5021:211
2Bernard169,3611:392
3Robert140,7741:472
4Richard138,2601:480
5Durand134,3031:495
6Dubois132,0351:503
7Moreau130,8171:508
8Simon120,8511:550
9Laurent120,1881:553
10Michel116,1071:572
11Garcia115,3941:576
12Thomas115,1491:577
13Leroy109,0891:609
14David97,1491:684
15Morel92,3971:719
16Roux90,4921:734
17Girard87,7961:757
18Fournier87,2181:762
19Lambert86,7581:766
20Lefebvre79,1991:839
21Mercier79,0791:840
22Blanc78,5211:846
23Dupont77,7401:854
24Faure75,5901:879
25Bertrand74,2711:894
26Morin72,2541:919
27Garnier72,0711:922
28Nicolas71,2971:932
29Marie69,9071:950
30Rousseau69,8051:952
31Bonnet68,9061:964
32Vincent68,1231:975
33Henry65,6791:1,011
34Masson64,6571:1,027
35Robin64,5421:1,029
36Martinez63,9911:1,038
37Boyer61,7891:1,075
38Muller61,3841:1,082
39Chevalier60,2611:1,102
40Denis59,9321:1,108
41Meyer59,6131:1,114
42Blanchard59,4961:1,116
43Lemaire59,4651:1,117
44Dufour58,7451:1,131
45Gauthier58,1021:1,143
46Vidal57,8561:1,148
47Perez57,6741:1,152
48Perrin57,3501:1,158
49Fontaine56,7051:1,171
50Joly56,6071:1,173
51Jean56,5151:1,175
52da Silva54,7951:1,212
53Gautier54,6861:1,215
54Roche53,8981:1,232
55Roy53,0781:1,251
56Pereira53,0751:1,251
57Mathieu52,7351:1,260
58Roussel52,3611:1,269
59Duval51,9421:1,279
60Guerin51,6921:1,285
61Lopez51,3201:1,294
62Rodriguez51,2451:1,296
63Colin51,0451:1,301
64Aubert50,5531:1,314
65Lefevre50,3851:1,318
66Marchand50,0471:1,327
67Schmitt49,6911:1,337
68Picard49,3791:1,345
69Caron49,0731:1,354
70Sanchez48,7481:1,363
71Meunier48,2071:1,378
72Gaillard47,9161:1,386
73Louis47,5631:1,397
74Nguyen46,7031:1,422
75Lucas46,4891:1,429
76Dumont46,0931:1,441
77dos Santos46,0371:1,443
78Brunet45,8121:1,450
79Clement45,6581:1,455
80Brun45,2841:1,467
81Arnaud45,1691:1,471
82Giraud44,8561:1,481
83Barbier44,5091:1,492
84Rolland44,2301:1,502
85Charles42,8171:1,551
86Hubert42,5851:1,560
87Fernandes42,2491:1,572
88Fabre42,2381:1,573
89Moulin41,9151:1,585
90Leroux41,8111:1,589
91Dupuis41,6981:1,593
92Guillaume41,6001:1,597
93Roger41,3151:1,608
94Paris40,6711:1,633
95Guillot40,2521:1,650
96Dupuy39,8761:1,666
97Fernandez39,6641:1,675
98Carpentier39,3861:1,686
99Payet39,2491:1,692
100Ferreira39,1551:1,696
101Olivier38,8611:1,709
102Philippe38,5661:1,722
103Deschamps38,2391:1,737
104Lacroix38,1361:1,742
105Jacquet37,7051:1,762
106Rey37,6661:1,763
107Klein37,5631:1,768
108Renaud37,5621:1,768
109Baron37,5541:1,769
110Leclerc37,3621:1,778
111Royer37,1531:1,788
112Berger36,8011:1,805
113Bourgeois36,7661:1,807
114Bertin36,5501:1,817
115Petit36,3251:1,829
116Adam36,2501:1,832
117Daniel36,1161:1,839
118Lemoine35,6711:1,862
119Pierre35,4171:1,875
120Francois35,1731:1,888
121Goncalves34,8971:1,903
122Benoit34,3681:1,933
123Lecomte34,2191:1,941
124Vasseur34,1581:1,945
125Lebrun33,6771:1,972
126Leblanc33,3451:1,992
127Leclercq33,1051:2,006
128Besson33,0211:2,012
129Charpentier32,8801:2,020
130Etienne32,3311:2,054
131Jacob31,7191:2,094
132Michaud31,4381:2,113
133Maillard31,2801:2,123
134Dumas31,2681:2,124
135Monnier30,6471:2,167
136Fleury30,5731:2,173
137Aubry30,5571:2,174
138Hamon30,4391:2,182
139Renard30,3141:2,191
140Chevallier30,2651:2,195
140Guyot30,2651:2,195
142Marty30,2371:2,197
143Gomez29,8791:2,223
144Gillet29,7511:2,233
145Andre29,6461:2,241
146Le Roux29,5561:2,247
147Boucher29,1531:2,278
148Bailly29,1401:2,279
149Pons28,8581:2,302
150Renault28,7511:2,310
151Julien28,6221:2,321
152Huet28,4201:2,337
153Riviere28,1191:2,362
154Gonzalez28,0091:2,371
155Reynaud27,9591:2,376
156Collet27,8741:2,383
157Bouvier27,7891:2,390
158Millet27,7351:2,395
159Rodrigues27,7311:2,395
160Gerard27,6771:2,400
161Bouchet27,4851:2,417
162Schneider27,2181:2,440
163Germain27,1811:2,444
164Marchal27,0661:2,454
165Martins26,8081:2,478
166Breton26,6691:2,491
167Cousin26,5171:2,505
168Langlois26,3451:2,521
169Perrot26,3001:2,526
170Perrier26,2481:2,531
171Le Gall26,0981:2,545
172Noel25,9521:2,559
173Pelletier25,5481:2,600
174Mallet24,6531:2,694
175Weber24,4051:2,722
176Hoarau24,0161:2,766
177Chauvin24,0081:2,767
178Le Goff23,9721:2,771
179Grondin23,9101:2,778
180Antoine23,8451:2,786
181Boulanger23,8221:2,788
182Gilbert23,6221:2,812
183Humbert23,6091:2,813
184Guichard23,5591:2,819
185Poulain23,5401:2,822
186Collin23,3141:2,849
187Tessier23,3091:2,850
188Pasquier22,9901:2,889
189Jacques22,8451:2,908
190Lamy22,8391:2,908
191da Costa22,7601:2,918
192Alexandre22,4831:2,954
193Perret22,4711:2,956
194Poirier22,3511:2,972
195Pascal22,1711:2,996
196Gros22,1671:2,996
197Buisson22,0971:3,006
198Albert21,8611:3,038
199Lopes21,8601:3,039
200Ruiz21,8571:3,039