Lebanon Genealogy

Middle East Lebanon

Guide to Lebanon ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

The country of Lebanon is located in Western Asia. Lebanon is between the Mediterranean Sea and Syria. While Syria also borders Lebanon on the north, Israel borders on the south. The primary language is Arabic, with many also speaking French. Other common languages include Aremenian, Greek, Hebrew, and English.

Timeline:


 * 3000-539 BC - Phoenicians, a maritime culture
 * 220 AD - Roman Rule
 * 1110-1124 - Invasion of the Crusaders
 * 1124 - Lebanon Surrendered to the Crusaders
 * 1124-1880 - Catholic influence since the time of the Crusaders
 * 1880 - Combined with Syria under the Ottoman Empire
 * World War I - Collapse of the Ottoman Empire results in the five Lebanese provices being mandated to France.
 * 1943 - Lebanon gained Independence, establishing Confessionalism
 * 1946 - French troops withdrew
 * 1948 - Arab-Israeli War
 * 1949-1975 - Years of Prosperity, based on financial power and tourism
 * 1975-1990 - Lebanese Civil War
 * 1990-2004 - Reconstruction
 * 2005 - Cedar Revolution, in which Prime Minister is assassinated
 * 2006 - Month-long War between Israel and Hezbollah
 * 2007 - Nahr al-Bared Conflict
 * 2008 - Doha Agreement, Reconstruction
 * 2008-2010 - Re-establishment of financial power and tourism
 * 2011 - Government Collapse

Getting started with Lebanon research
Unfortunately, because of damage to civil infrastructure during wartime and current political unrest, Lebanese research can be difficult to obtain.

However, there is a movement among Lebanese people in a variety of communities to organize historical records and collaborate on genealogy work.

See below, under Research for a few helpful links.

Jurisdictions
Lebanon is divided into six governorates and further subdivided into twenty-five districts. The districts themselves are also divided into several municipalities, each enclosing a group of cities or villages:

Beirut Governorate (city of Beirut only)

Nabatieh Governorate (Jabal Amel)


 * Bint Jbeil
 * Hasbaya
 * Marjeyoun
 * Nabatieh

Beqaa Governorate


 * Baalbek
 * Hermel
 * Rashaya
 * Western Beqaa (al-Beqaa al-Gharbi)
 * Zahle

North Governorate (al-Shamal)


 * Akkar
 * Batroun
 * Bsharri
 * Koura
 * Miniyeh-Danniyeh
 * Tripoli
 * Zgharta

Mount Lebanon Governorate (Jabal Lubnan)


 * Aley
 * Baabda
 * Byblos (Jbeil)
 * Chouf
 * Keserwan
 * Matn

South Governorate (al-Janoub)


 * Jezzine
 * Sidon (Saida)
 * Tyre (Sur)

Research Tools
The following websites and organizations are helpful in Lebanon research:


 * Lebanon Genealogy Forum
 * Lebanese Research
 * Lebanese Newspapers
 * Lebanese Gazeteer

Help Wanted
In order to make this wiki a better research tool, we need your help! Many tasks need to be done. You can help by: