Portugal Church Records

Catholic Church Records
Catholic church records are a vital part of Portuguese research. As part of the reforms carried out during the Catholic church’s Council of Trent in 1562, parish priests were required to record the births, marriages, and deaths of every member of their parish. Prior to this, parish church books almost exclusively recorded the the births, marriages, and deaths of nobility, while only about seven percent of the common people's vital events were recorded.

In 1910, the leaders of the newly established First Portuguese Republic ordered that all records of birth, marriage, and death created by the Catholic Church be transferred to the government. Some of these records are now in the national archive in Lisbon, called the "Torre do Tombo", some are in archives that were established in each district, and some unfortunately were lost in this transfer.

In December 1993 the national archive printed a two volume book under the title, Inventario Colectivo dos Registros Paroquais, (Collective Inventory of the Parochial Records, Family History Library book listing each parish church and which of its records were in the national archive and which were in one of the district archives.

Many of these original records in the national archives and the various district archives have been microfilmed and are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog.

Online Catholic Church Records
The following three indexes include various Portuguese localities. The year range is an overall range, some localities may be from earlier or later years.
 * Portugal Baptisms, 1570-1910 at FamilySearch — index
 * Portugal Marriages, 1760-1910 at FamilySearch — index
 * Portugal Deaths, 1640-1910 at FamilySearch — index

In partnership with the Genealogical Society of Utah, the Portuguese government has digitized the parish records in their archives. The digitized records are organized by District (or region for the Azores and Madeira), and most have not yet been indexed. Images are available both at the website of the Portuguese archive where the record is housed and at FamilySearch.

Because most of these online databases are browse-only, researchers must select the municipality and parish (located on the lefthand side of the page on Tombo.pt) of interest in order to view the birth, marriage, and death records for each parish.

To more easily access the parish records, links to the website Tombo.pt have been provided to link researchers to the digital record collection at the Portuguese archive.


 * Portugal, Açores, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Açores, Catholic Church Records and Passports at Cultora Governo dos Açores
 * FamilySearch has yet to digitize the parish church books of the region of the Azores.
 * Portugal, Aveiro, Catholic Church Records, 1550-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Aveiro, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Beja, Catholic Church Records, 1550-1913 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Beja, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Braga, Catholic Church Records, 1530-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Braga, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Bragança, Catholic Church Records, 1541-1985 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Bragança, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Castelo Branco, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Castelo Branco, Catholic Church Records and Passports at Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Coimbra, Catholic Church Records, 1459-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Coimbra, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Évora, Catholic Church Records, 1533-1912 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Évora, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Faro, Catholic Church Records, 1587-1880 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Faro, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Guarda, Catholic Church Records, 1459-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Guarda, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Leiria, Catholic Church Records, 1534-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Leiria, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Lisboa, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * FamilySearch has yet to digitize the parish church books of the district of Lisboa (Lisbon)
 * Portugal, Madeira, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * FamilySearch has yet to digitize the parish church books of the region of Madeira.
 * Portugal, Portalegre, Catholic Church Records, 1859-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Portalegre, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Porto, Catholic Church Records, 1535-1949 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Porto, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Santarém, Catholic Church Records, 1544-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Santarém, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Setúbal, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Setúbal, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Viana do Castelo, Catholic Church Records, 1537-1911 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Viana do Castelo, Catholic Church Records and Passports at Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Vila Real, Catholic Church Records, 1533-1941 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Vila Real, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt
 * Portugal, Viseu, Catholic Church Records, 1523-1989 at FamilySearch
 * Portugal, Viseu, Catholic Church Records and Passports through Tombo.pt

Baptisms (Batismos)
Catholic tradition dictated that individuals needed to be baptized in order to to reach heaven. Because of this, infants were usually baptized soon after their birth. Baptism records usually contain: After the mid-1800s
 * Child's name
 * Father's name
 * Mother's name, but not usually her maiden name
 * Baptism date and birth date
 * Name of witnesses
 * Parent's residences
 * Father's occupation and residence
 * Grandparent's names and residences
 * Witnesses' residences

Marriages (Casamentos)
Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Catholic parish register marriage records usually contain: After the mid-1800s. After the mid-1900s.
 * Marriage date
 * Full name of the bride and groom
 * Residence of the bride and groom (more common after the mid 1800s)
 * May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage.
 * Marital status of bride and groom (after the mid-1800s)
 * Names and residences of parents of the bride and groom
 * Names and residences of parents of the witnesses
 * Profession of groom and bride
 * Age of groom and bride

Burials (Obitos)
A burial usually took place in the deceased’s parish a few days after the death. Parish register burial records usually contain: After the mid-1850s Burial registers may mention infant children who were not baptized, including stillbirths.
 * Burial date
 * Death date
 * Name of the deceased.
 * Name of spouse, if married at time of death
 * Names of parents if deceased is a minor
 * Age
 * Sex
 * Parish of residence of deceased
 * Residence of parents or spouse of deceased
 * Occasionally, names of grandparents of deceased

Marriage Proceedings (Processos de Casamento)
Marriage proceedings were pre-nuptial documentation compiled by potential partners and provided to church authorities in order to qualify for marriage. They can be used to augment marriage records and possibly provide additional biographical information on the potential bride or groom. Marriage proceedings usually contained: Because of record loss, these records are more likely to be found in nineteenth and twentieth-century research.
 * Name of bride and groom
 * Name of parents
 * Birthdates and birthplaces of bride and groom
 * Any former marriages

Marriage Dispensations (Dispensação)
When an impediment was discovered for a couple who wished to marry, their bishop's dispensation was required in order for the couple to wed within the Catholic church. Impediments included age, inability to consummate the relationship, previous marriage, abduction, marriage to a non-Catholic, being closely related by blood (consanguinity), or being closely related by marriage (affinity). Unlike birth, marriage, and death records, marriage dispensations are kept at Diocesan archives, and most have not been digitized. Marriage Dispensations usually contain:
 * Names of potential bride and groom
 * Residences of potential bride and groom
 * Ages of potential bride and groom
 * (Occasionally) Names of parents
 * (Occasionally) Charts, graphs, or documents showing relationship between potential bride and groom

FamilySearch Catalog
The FamilySearch Catalog lists many parish books that are available on microfilm. However, the vast majority have been digitized and can be viewed online at a family history center. To search the catalog, use the Place-name search and search for a parish of interest.

Archival Research
Sometimes, archive research is necessary to obtain a record that has not been digitized or request a clearer copy of a record found online or on microfilm. This can be done either through letter correspondence, email (sometimes), or researching in person. Please read Portugal Church Directories for contact information for dioceses and parishes.

Because all of the parish records containing genealogical data were moved to district archives, these will be the most important institution to contact to view the original records. The portal |Tombo.pt is the best english-language guide to access an archive's website. To locate an archive's website through Tombo:
 * Click on the district you wish to research on the left sidebar to open the district's page
 * On the top of the page, under the district's name, click on the archive's name.
 * The archive's website will display in Portuguese. If possible, use GoogleTranslate to translate the page. The link will usually open to the archive's catalog, allowing users to search for the collection they wish.
 * Usually, there will be a link at the bottom of the page titled "Contactos." Use this link to contact an archivist, referring to the Portuguese Letter Writing Guide for writing a genealogical request in Portuguese.

Many times, duplicate copies of birth, marriage, and death records were sent to a parish's dioceses. These institutions also store marriage impediments, and other documentation that may be useful in tracing a parish priest. You can find contact information for diocesis at the website Conferência Episcopal Portuguesa.

It is recommended that the archivist always be contacted before planning a visit to the archive. For help writing a letter requesting records or preparing for an actual visit, refer to Portuguese Letter Writing Guide.

Wiki Articles Describing Online Collections

 * Portugal Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal Deaths (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Aveiro, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Beja, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Braga, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Bragança, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Castelo Branco, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Coimbra, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Évora, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Faro, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Guarda, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Leiria, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Portalegre, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Porto, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Santarém, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Setubal, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Viana do Castelo, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Vila Real Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Portugal, Viseu, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)