Channel Islands Genealogy

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

Country Information
The Channel Islands (Norman: Îles d'la Manche) are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France. They comprise two separate countries: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the States of Jersey. They are British, but do not belong to the United Kingdom. They have their own language, a Norman-French patois is still spoken, but everyone speaks English.

Getting Started


Channel Islands Map
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in the Channel Islands.

Jurisdictions
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in the Channel Islands. Click on a place below to go to the corresponding Wiki article listing more information.

Jersey Parishes
Jersey is divided into twelve parishes. All have access to the sea and most are named after saints to whom their ancient parish churches are dedicated:

 Grouville  Saint Brélade Saint Clement Saint Helier Saint John Saint Lawrence Saint Martin Saint Mary</li> Saint Ouen</li> Saint Peter</li> Saint Saviour</li> Trinity</li> </ul>

These parishes are further divided into vingtaines (or, in the case of St. Ouen, cueillettes).

Bailiwick of Guernsey Parishes (and Islands)
As well as the island of Guernsey itself, the Bailiwick includes the islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, Burhou, Lihou and other islets.

The ten parishes of Guernsey are: <ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right:5px;"> Castel </li> Forest</li> St Andrew</li> St Martin</li> St Peter Port</li> St Pierre du Bois</li> St Sampson</li> St Saviour</li> Torteval</li> Vale</li> </ul>

More Channel Islands Research Tools
Research tools can include resources that assist in locating correct records to search and determining the correct locality to search in. Below are links and Wiki articles to research tools for Channel Islands.
 * Historical Descriptions of the Channel Island (helpful tools and resources, gazetteers)
 * Jerripedia This site is dedicated to the study of Jersey's history and family history
 * The Channel Islands Family History Society
 * Jersey Heritage Trust
 * Société Jersiaise
 * Jersey Boer War Roll of Honor - it is an on going project.
 * Guernsey: Land Registry Documents
 * Research Archives: https://www.facebook.com/editdoc.php?note_id=1565232740398329 History of Guernsey
 * Guernsey Civil Registartion
 * Family_History_in_Guernsey
 * Guernsey Ancestry
 * Forebears Guernsey

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.
 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
 * Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
 * Historical Records
 * Family History Center locator map