Guernsey, Channel Islands Genealogy

The Bailiwick of Guernsey (Norman: Bailliage de Guernesey) is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France.

As well as the island of Guernsey itself, the Bailiwick includes the islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, Burhou, Lihou and other islets.

Guernsey is neither part of the United Kingdom nor the European Union. Together with the States of Jersey, it forms the geographic area known as the Channel Islands.

The islands were formerly under the control of Brittany and, later, Normandy and France. The Bailiwick of Guernsey was occupied by German troops during World War II.

Guernsey's States of Deliberation comprises the bailiff or deputy bailiff, 12 conseillers, 10 douzaine (parish council) representatives, 33 people's deputies, two Alderney representatives, HM Procureur (attorney-general) and HM Comptroller (solicitor-general).

Jurisdictions
The ten parishes of Guernsey are:
 * Castel
 * Forest
 * St Andrew
 * St Martin
 * St Peter Port
 * St Pierre du Bois
 * St Sampson
 * St Saviour
 * Torteval
 * Vale

Research Tools

 * Channel Islands Family History Society
 * La Société Guernesiaise
 * Priaulx Library
 * Isle of Sark
 * Guernsey Family History


 * (helpful tools and resources, gazetteers)
 * (language dictionary, handwriting guide or tutorial, etc.)

Featured Content

 * Browse: Pages for Guernsey

Did you know?

 * The French writer Victor Hugo wrote some of his best-known works while in exile in Guernsey, including Les Misérables. His home in St. Peter Port, Hauteville House, is now a museum.


 * On 10 December 2008 the residents of the island of Sark held its first democratic election for the office of Conseillers of the Chief Pleas. For centuries the island has been governed, under a feudal system, by local landowning families. The change was brought about following a legal challenge by residents under the European Convention on Human Rights.

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