Portugal, Braga, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection of church records includes the years 1530 to 1911. The records included in this collection are those of baptisms, marriages, and deaths or burials from parishes in the in the Diocese of Braga, Portugal.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Portuguese records. For help reading them see Portuguese Genealogical Word List and Portuguese Letter-writing Guide.

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

Baptism
 * Date and place of the event
 * Name of child
 * Date of birth and gender
 * Legitimacy
 * Parents’ names,
 * Parents residence
 * Parents place of origin
 * Names of witnesses or godparents’ names

Marriage
 * Date and place of the event
 * Names of the bride and groom
 * Civil status (widowed, single, divorce) of bride
 * Civil status (widowed, single, divorce) of groom
 * Place of origin and/or residence of bride and groom
 * Names of parents
 * Names of witnesses

Death
 * Place and date of death
 * Name of the deceased
 * Civil status of deceased person
 * Civil status and name of spouse,
 * Cause of death
 * Parents' names
 * Children if any left behind
 * Testament (will)
 * Place of burial (cemetery)

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Your ancestor's given name and surname
 * Identifying information such as residence
 * Estimated marriage or birth year

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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
 * Compile information for every person who has the same surname as your ancestor; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community

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

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * Check the civil registration and church records to verify information

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

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

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.

Portugal, Diocese de Braga Registros da Igreja Católica (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)