France, Brittany, Public Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Why Should I Look at This Collection?
This collection contains records from the administrative region of Brittany (Bretagne) which is comprised of the departments of Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Morbihan.

What is in This Collection?
This collection indexes military records of the First French Republic, 1792-1804; the First French Empire (Napoleon Empire), 1804-1815; the Kingdom of France (the Bourbon Restoration), 1815-1830; Second French Republic, 1848-1852; the Second French Empire, 1852-1870; and into the Third French Republic. It contains records from the War of 1870, also known as the Franco-Prussian War. There are also are lay or ecclesiastical seigniorial records and records of firefighters from Rennes in the department Ille-et-Vilaine, as well as court records from the later years of the Kingdom of France (to 1792).

Reading These Records
For help reading these French 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

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know the name and residence of the person you're searching for.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you already 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 children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived in a nearby town or province. 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 civil registration in the country. When you have located your ancestor’s record, 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?
Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, one or the other collection may be more helpful. While searching, it is helpful to know such information as 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 throughout their lives. 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.