France Birth Records Index

Birth records are a crucial resource for genealogists researching their French ancestry. In France, civil registration of births began in 1792, replacing the earlier parish records. These documents, known as "actes de naissance," typically contain valuable information such as the child's name, date and place of birth, parents' names, ages, occupations, and residences.

French birth records are particularly useful as they often include marginal notes recording subsequent life events like marriages and deaths.

Most records over 100 years old are publicly accessible and have been digitized by departmental archives, making them available online. For births before 1792, researchers should consult parish registers (registres paroissiaux) for baptismal records.

It's important to note that privacy laws restrict access to more recent records, typically those less than 75 years old.

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Collections available in France


France, Church Baptisms and Civil Births 156,504,188 records available France, Births and Baptisms 13,994,978 records available France, Nord Civil Births, 1820-1915 6,786,995 records available France, Coutances and Avranches Diocese, Catholic Parish Baptisms 858,566 records available France, Val-de-Marne, Civil Births 709,948 records available France, Protestant Church Baptism 257,104 records available See the entire collection catalog of birth records in France

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