Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of civil records from the province of Namur for the years 1800-1912. The original records are held at the Belgian National Archives and additional images will be added to the online collection as they become available.

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. These images can be viewed online at a Family History Center near you, at the Family History Library, or by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you do not have a FamilySearch account, you can register here. For additional information about image restrictions, please see the Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections page.

Reading These Records
These records are written in French and Dutch. For help reading these records see the following:


 * Belgium Language and Languages
 * France Language and Languages
 * French Handwriting or Netherlands Handwriting
 * Dutch Genealogical Word List

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

Birth
 * Birth date and place of birth
 * Name of child
 * If still-born, illegitimate, or twin
 * Gender
 * Names of parents, father's occupation and their residence
 * Birth place of father
 * Birth place of mother
 * Date and number of record

Marriage
 * Date and Place of Event
 * Name of Bride and Groom
 * Residence, Marital Status, and Age
 * Names of Parents
 * Names of Witnesses

Death
 * Date and Place of Death
 * Name of Deceased Person
 * Age or Birth Date
 * Residence Place and sometimes the Place of Origin
 * Cause of Death
 * Marital Status
 * If Married, the Name of the Spouse and sometimes the Names of Children
 * Sometimes Names of Parents
 * Names of Witnesses

Collection Content
This collection contains primarily civil registration records of births, marriages, and deaths. A few other records are included, primarily marriage proclamations and marriage supplements, but they make up only a very small part of the collection.

For information on the content of the records please see the wiki article Belgium, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before beginning a search in these records, it is best to know the full name of the individual in question, as well as an approximate time range for the desired record. When entered into the search engine on the Collection Page, this information provides the quickest, most reliable path to finding the correct person. Of course, other information can be substituted as necessary.

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the 


 * 1) Select Lieu
 * 2) Select Type de enregistrement to view the images

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?

 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see below for assistance in citing this collection. Save or print a copy of the image if possible
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. Note that family members often appear on an individual's vital records, such as in the role of witnesses to a marriage

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records
 * Check for variants of given names and surnames. Alternate versions of an individual's name could appear in different records for a variety of reasons: the individual could have gone by a nickname, middle name, or an abbreviation of their given name at any point; spelling or pronunciation might not have been standardized at the time of the record's creation; or there might simply have been a clerical error in recording the event. Note that some women reverted to their maiden name when their husband died, and therefore could be buried under their maiden name
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches
 * Search the records of nearby parishes. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon. Note that marriages usually took place where the bride resided
 * Look at the actual image of the record to verify the information found in the online description, if possible

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

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.