France, Finistère, Quimper et Léon Diocese, Catholic Parish Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

FranceFinistère

What is in this Collection?
This collection will include records from 1772 to 1894.

This collection consists of name indexes and images of Catholic parish registers recording events of baptism, marriage and burial in the Diocese of Quimper et Léon. Parishes in this diocese lie within the department of Finistère. This collection only contains parishes that start with the letter "A" or "B". In earlier years, separate registers were maintained for baptisms, marriages, and burials. However, towards the end of the 17 century the entries were generally intermingled. Entries were made in chronological order, with the records being written in Latin. Confirmations were not consistently recorded. Toward the latter half of the 19th century, pre-printed forms began to be used with the date and names written in by the officiating priest. In 1539, François I issued the edict of Villers-Cotterêts, which required the Catholic Church to record baptisms. The Pope mandated that records be kept in 1563. In 1579 the edict of Blois required the church in France to register marriages and burials. In 1667, the Code Louis required that two copies of the registers be kept, with one deposited at the bailliage. Most parishes covered a single town or village. Large cities normally had multiple parishes. In August 2010 the first online records were published for the collection comprising parishes beginning with letters A and B. The following parishes are included:
 * Argol
 * Arzano
 * Audierne
 * Bannalec
 * Brest-paroisse-Notre-Dame-des-Carmes
 * Brest Hospice Civile
 * Brest-paroisse-Lambézellec
 * Brest-paroisse-Saint-Louis
 * Brest-paroisse-Saint-Martin
 * Brest-paroisse-Saint-Pierre

Further revisions to the collection will follow as other parishes are published in future.

Sample Images
Click on images for a larger view.

How Do I Search This Collection?
To search by image:

⇒Select the "Browse through images" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Department" category ⇒Select the "Township" category ⇒Select the "Parish" category ⇒Select the "Record Type and Year Range" category which takes you to the images. Look at each image or record comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images or records and compare the information about the individuals listed to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind there may be more than one person in the records with the same name and you will want to look carefully at dates, places and relations to identify your ancestor from another person. You also may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name if they were known by a nickname or changed their name from the original birth record name. Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life and may be listed in records with any of those variations. To search the collection fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use the age in the citizen to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records in the country.
 * When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, one or the other collection may be more helpful.
 * While searching, it is helpful to know such information as the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.
 * Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation: Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation