France, Coutances et d'Avranches Diocese, Catholic Parish Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
In France baptisms began to be officially recorded in 1539, but a few registers exist from as early as 1334. Records continue to the present.

Record History
In 1539, François I issued the edict of Villers-Cotterêts, which required the Catholic Church to record baptisms. The Pope mandated that records be kept in 1563. In 1579 the edict of Blois required the church in France to register marriages and burials. In 1667 the Code Louis required that two copies of the registers be kept, with one deposited at the bailliage. Most parishes covered a single town or village. Large cities normally had multiple parishes.

Why This Record Was Created
French Catholic parish registers were created to record the church’s sacraments of baptism, marriage, and burial.

Record Reliability
French Catholic parish registers are extremely reliable sources for French family history.

Record Description
In earlier years separate registers were maintained for baptisms, marriages, and burials. However, towards the end of the 17 century, the entries were generally intermingled. Entries were made in chronological order, with the records being written in Latin. Confirmations were not consistently recorded.

Record Content
Baptismal entries include:


 * Name and sex of the child
 * Legitimacy of the child
 * Names of parents (women are identified by their maiden names, and mothers’ names were not required until after 1667)
 * Sometimes the birth date
 * Baptismal date
 * Place of birth and baptism is the parish unless otherwise noted in the entry
 * Names of godparents

Marriage entries include:


 * Names of the bride and groom
 * Previous marital status (this could be “previously unmarried” or be “widow” or “widower,” with the name of deceased spouse listed)
 * Marriage date

Marriages may also include:


 * Their residences and ages
 * Names of their parents
 * Names of the witnesses and their relationship to the bride and groom
 * Publication dates of the banns (this usually occurred three separate times before the marriage, allowing people to state any objections to the marriage)
 * Women are always identified by their maiden names.

Burial entries include:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Age
 * Names of their parents (if unmarried) or name of the spouse
 * Burial date
 * Death date (sometimes)
 * Names of witnesses, with their relationship to the deceased sometimes given

How to Use the Record
Parish registers are the best source for identifying individuals, parents, and spouses in France before 1792. Civil registration began in September 1792, and after this date, civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths is equally important. The information recorded in the parish registers confirms the information found in the civil registers.

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