Portugal Compiled Genealogies

Genealogies (Processos de Gênere)
Published genealogies can be excellent guides to Portuguese research. Although not readily available, these books can be extremely valuable in extending family pedigrees and in a single source providing extensive genealogical information.

Until the twenty-first century, pedigrees were generally compiled by private individuals wishing to be admitted to military and religious orders, to enter the university or the legal profession, to become an Inquisition official, to be recognized as a member of the nobility, or to have the right to wear hereditary insignias.

These genealogies typically contain the names, birth dates, marriage dates, titles, and relationships of roughly four generations of a family, extending as far back as the 1400s.

While there is some secondary and false information in these genealogies, most consist of notarized copies of original church and family records.

Online Genealogies
The following databases have indexes to Portuguese genealogies.
 * Geneall Family Index

Genealogies in National and District Archives
Most of these genealogies are housed in the National Archive in Lisbon, or the District Archive where ones ancestor lived. Refer to [Portugal Archives and Libraries|Portugal Archives and Libraries] for a list of the district archives of Portugal.

Genealogies at the FamilySearch Library
The FamilySearch Library has a variety of genealogies for Portuguese families. To access them, perform a subject search at the FamilySearch Catalog for PORTUGAL - GENEALOGY.