France, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection has various birth, marriage, and death records from the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, with records spanning the years 1792 to 1938.

Reading These Records
These records are in the French Language. For help reading these records see the following guides:
 * France Language and Languages
 * French Genealogical Word List
 * French Handwriting
 * Script Tutorial for French
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading French Handwritten Records

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name
 * Birthdate
 * Birth place
 * Gender
 * Birth year
 * Father's name
 * Mother's name

Marriage
 * Name
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage place
 * Gender
 * Birth year
 * Father's name
 * Mother's name
 * Spouse's name
 * Spouse's gender
 * Spouse's father's name
 * Spouse's mother's name

Deaths
 * Name
 * Death date
 * Death place
 * Gender
 * Birth year
 * Father's name
 * Mother's name

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person you are searching for
 * Date or approximate date of birth
 * Birthplace

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age of the citizen to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records
 * Continue to search the records to identify spouse(s), children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records in the country
 * Carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership *Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Consult the France Record Finder to find other records*Switch to a different record collection, such as civil registration or church records. Depending on the time period, one or the other collection may be more helpful
 * While searching, it is helpful to know the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor, and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in France.
 * Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.