Portugal, Castelo Branco, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, ultimate rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. The Portugal, Castelo Branco, Catholic Church Records collection is available only to the members of the supporting organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These images are available on microfilm for viewing at a FamilySearch Center; for instructions, see Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche.

Title in the Language of the Record
Portugal, Castelo Branco, Registros da Igreja Católica

Record Description
This Collection will include records from 1714 to 1911. The text of the records is in Portuguese.

Copies of baptism, marriage, and burial records created by Catholic parishes in the district of Castelo Branco. Additional images will be published as they become available.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browselink from the collection landing page.

Record Content
Most baptismal records contain:


 * Date and place of baptism
 * Name and gender of child
 * Child's date and place of birth
 * Father's name, occupation and origin
 * Mother's maiden name, and origin
 * Names of paternal grandparents
 * Names of maternal grandparents

Most marriage records contain:


 * Date and place of marriage
 * Names of the groom and bride
 * Groom's age, civil status, occupation and origin
 * Groom's date and place of baptism
 * Names of groom's parents
 * Bride's age, civil status, occupation and origin
 * Bride's date and place of baptism
 * Names of bride's parents
 * Names of the witnesses

Most death records contain:


 * Name, age and gender of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Civil status and and place of origin
 * Spouse's name, if married
 * Parents' names, if deceased is a minor
 * Names of children
 * Burial information

How to Use the Record
To search this collection ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "District" where you ancestors lived ⇒Select the appropriate "Municipality" ⇒Select the appropriate "Civil Parish" ⇒Select the appropriate "Parish" ⇒Select the appropriate "Record Type and Years" and you will see images of those records.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your 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 your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

When browsing this collection it is helpful to know the following:


 * The place where the event occurred
 * The name and surname of the person
 * The approximate date of the event
 * The name of the parents or spouse

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

Portuguese Genealogical Word List

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites
Portuguese Genealogist Master List

Related Wiki Articles
Portugal Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the "Show Citation" box: Portugal, Castelo Branco, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1911

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.