Portugal, Braga, Priest Application Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 1596 to 1911.

The collection includes priest application files created by the Catholic Church in the district of Braga. These files consist of documentation created during the process of proving the applicant's eligibility to become a member of the Catholic clergy, including genealogies and pedigrees. These records are written in Portuguese.

Collection Content
Application records may include the following information:


 * Applicant's full name
 * Applicant's legitimacy
 * Parents' names
 * Names of paternal grandparents
 * Names of maternal grandparents

How Do I Search This Collection?
When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your relative’s first name, or some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships.

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page

⇒Select the "Locality" category ⇒Select the "or Locality 2" category ⇒Select the "Locality 3" category ⇒Select the "Tipo de registro e anos" category which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Portuguese. For help reading the records, see the following resources:


 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Portuguese Letter-writing Guide
 * Learning Center Resources:
 * Portuguese Handwriting Lesson 1
 * Portuguese Handwriting Lesson 2
 * Portuguese Handwriting Lesson 3

What Do I Do Next?

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community
 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date

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

 * Try different spellings of the names
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. In addition local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military unties, counties, parishes, etc.)

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, Braga, Catholic Church Records, Priest Application Files, 1596-1911." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2016 Citing Braga District Archives.
 * Collection Citation:

Top of Page