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.

These parish records have been preserved relatively well. Some of the older registers appear to have some physical damage; therefore, some data may be difficult to read or some even may be lost. However, in general, they are in good condition for extracting genealogical information. Earlier records were handwritten in narrative style, but newer records are handwritten in formatted registers.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Portuguese records. For help reading them see:
 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * 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
 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference
 * Use the information to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * 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?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names
 * Portugal’s emigration rate is one of the highest in the world. Check Portugal Emigration and Immigration for more information
 * 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.)
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * For records after 1911, it is suggested that you research both the civil registry and the church records to verify information

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

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