Benin, Mixed Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Benin

What is in This Collection?
This collection spans 1840-2012 and contains images of registered births, marriages, and deaths collected by the government. It also includes cemetery registers, colonial correspondence, newspaper clippings, and court registers. Benin was a French colony from about 1900 to 1958.

Reading These Records
These records are written in French. For help reading these records see the following:
 * France Language and Languages
 * French Word List

What Can This Collection Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Vital Records
 * Names of the child, couple, or deceased
 * Parents’ names
 * Date and place of birth
 * Date of the marriage
 * Death dates
 * Names of spouse
 * Cause of death

Collection Content
The following records may be found in this collection:


 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death
 * Cemetery
 * Colonial Correspondence


 * Court Registers
 * Newspaper publications
 * Population Census
 * Land Records
 * Employee records


 * Army records
 * School records
 * General vital records

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

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 Who I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Add the new information to your records
 * Use the information to find the person in other records
 * Analyze the entry to see if if provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of his name
 * Try searching by surname only

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Benin.
 * Benin Civil Registration

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.