Cape Verde, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Cape Verde

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes baptism, marriage, and death records from Catholic Church parishes of Cape Verde and dates from 1787-1957. Cape Verde is an island country which includes ten volcanic islands. Nine of the islands are inhabited and are called Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Sal, Santiago, Santo Antão, São Nicolau, São Vicente. The island of Santa Luzia is the lone uninhabited island. These records are housed at the Arquivo Nacional de Cabo Verde.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Portuguese. For help reading them see:
 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Portuguese Letter-writing Guide

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The information in these records may include the following:

Baptism
 * Name of child
 * Name of parents
 * Birthdate of child
 * Birthplace of child

Marriage
 * Name of groom
 * Name of bride
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage place

Death
 * Name of deceased
 * Place of death
 * Date of death

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person you are looking for
 * General location of the event
 * Date range for record

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
 * Use the ages to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in civil records
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved or lived nearby. 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
 * Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor
 * Your ancestor may have used nicknames, middle names, or different names at different times
 * For women, burial records may be filed using their maiden name, so they may not be found by searching the married name
 * Standard spelling of names may not have existed during the periods your ancestor 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
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800s

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Cape Verde.
 * Cape Verde Record Finder
 * Cape Verde Finding Town of Origin

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Richard Lobban and Marilyn Halter, Historical dictionary of the republic of Cape Verde 2nd ed. Metuchen, New Jersey : Scarecrow Press, 1988 FHL 966.58 H26L
 * Records of Chapel of Immaculate Conception, 1897-1912
 * Arquivo Histórico Nacional (Praia, Cabo Verde) Cabo Verde, bilhetes de identidade, 1929-1956
 * Arquivo Histórico Nacional (Praia, Cabo Verde), Cabo Verde, processos orfanológicos (ca1786-1817)

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.

Cabo Verde, Registros da Igreja Católica (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)