France Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records

France

What is in This Collection?
This index is an electronic index for the years 1546 to 1896. This index is not complete for any particular place, region or time period. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index.

Reading These Records
For help reading these French records see the following guides:
 * France Language and Languages
 * French Genealogical Word List
 * French Handwriting
 * Script Tutorial for French
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading French Handwritten Records

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name
 * Event type
 * Event date
 * Event place
 * Gender
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Father's name
 * Mother's name

Coverage Table
The Coverage Table shows the places and time periods of the original records in this collection. The table indicates how many records the collection has from each place. Most of the records in the collection are from the time periods listed in the table; however, the collection may have a few records from before or after the time period.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know: As you search, look for a record which matches this information.
 * The name of the ancestor you are looking for
 * Age or approximate year of birth
 * Age or approximate year of death

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?

 * Copy down all the information from the record image
 * If you have not already done so, find the image of the original record. The image may contain more information than was put into the index entry
 * Save or print a copy of the image for future reference
 * Cite the record; see below for help citing records in this collection
 * 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

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. For much of the period of this collection, spelling was not standardized; pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation. A person might also have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name
 * Vary the search terms. For example, either expand the date range or search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible matches

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