Genealogy in Calvados: Find Your Ancestors Online

Genealogy Cheat Sheet - Many online archives to guide you in your genealogy in Calvados: history, images, videos, and more...

©️Wikimedia - Claude Shoshany

Updated: September 2, 2024

Located in the Normandy region, in the northwest of France, the Calvados department is a territory rich in history. The Calvados department was created during the French Revolution in 1790. It is composed of part of the former province of Normandy. Bordered by the English Channel to the north and west, Calvados is surrounded by the departments of the Seine-Maritime, the Eure, the Orne and the Manche. 

Its capital, Caen, is a historic city that played a crucial role in French history, particularly during World War II. 

Calvados is famous for its Normandy Landing Beaches. Iconic sites like Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and the Pointe du Hoc attract thousands of visitors from around the world each year.

📁 The Archives of Calvados 

The Departmental Archives of Calvados

Visiting the Departmental Archives of Calvados:

📍 61 rue de Lion-sur-Mer, 14000 Caen

Contacting the Departmental Archives of Calvados:

📞  02 31 47 18 50

📧  Contact the archives

Browse the online archives of Calvados, searching for your ancestors:

• Civil status
• Census records
• Military registers
• Cadastre
• Notaries
• Admiralty and maritime registration
• Genealogical extracts
• Inventories of estates and absences
• Maternity records of Bérouville
• Press
• Works and monographs
• Journals and periodicals
• Directories and almanacs

Online Records

• On FranceGenWeb: "Miscellaneous records" - Marriages - Migrants' marriages  - Marriages of migrants from Calvados - Notaries - Protestants
• Census data from 1836 to 1962 in Pont d'Ouilly
• Tables and records of 39,636 marriages from Bocage Virois

Unusual Records

• Contagion and the intendant's tour on the J. Marchal's website.

🏳 Migrations in Calvados

Migrations to and from the department of Calvados and the Normandy region have been influenced by various historical, economic, and social factors. 

• Middle Ages: in the 9th and 10th centuries, the Vikings, originating from Scandinavia, invaded and colonized the Normandy region. Their leader, Rollon, obtained the territory of Normandy in 911 through the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, marking the beginning of the dynasty of the Dukes of Normandy.

• Modern Era: in the 17th and 18th centuries, many Normans, including inhabitants of Calvados, emigrated to French colonies in North America, particularly in New France (present-day Canada) and Louisiana. These migrations were often motivated by economic and religious reasons. 

• 19th Century: with industrialization, many inhabitants of Calvados and Normandy migrated to major French cities, such as Paris, in search of better economic opportunities.
  
  At the end of the 19th century, a new wave of migration to the United States and Canada occurred, often motivated by agricultural crises and economic opportunities across the Atlantic.

• 20th Century: the two world wars caused massive population displacements. During World War II, Calvados was the scene of the Normandy Landings, which led to significant population movements, including evacuations and resettlements.
  
  After World War II, reconstruction and industrialization attracted workers to Calvados and Normandy. Additionally, the region also experienced internal migration with rural inhabitants moving to urban centers. 

Learn more:

• Italians in the Iron Mines of Calvados (1878-1950)
• Potigny, the "Little Warsaw"
• Population Movements in Calvados from 1890 to 1940
• Depopulation of the Lower Normandy Countryside During the First Half of the 19th Century

🎭 Calvados in Pictures

Videos

• The Apple and Cider - 1925
• Anglo-American Invasion in Normandy – 1944
• D-Day. August 23, 1944, Liberation of Lisieux
• National Relief Trucks Bring Mail from Paris – 1944
• Launch of MS “Louis Charles Schiaffino” and “Ange Schiaffino” - 1952
• Deauville Grand Prix - 1954
• Modern Construction in Caen – 1957
• Helicopter Bus Caen/Le Havre - 1958
• Reconstruction in Caen, Falaise, Aunay sur Odon, Granville - 1959
• François André, Director of Deauville Casino – 1959
• Trouville Elects the Best Athlete – 1960
• The Making of Calvados – 1966
• Commemoration of the Allied Landing on June 6, 1944 with MM Messmer and Triboulet at the Canadian Cemetery - 1966
• End of the Tennis Season in Saint Aubin sur Mer – Fry Pan Match – 1966
• From Bad to Worse – 1969
• A Farmer in the Factory – 1972
• Christmas with Family – 1974
• The Road Code Dropouts – 1978
• Witchcraft in Normandy – 1981
• Horse Breeder – 1981
• Ouistreham – 1984
• The Bombing of Evrecy – 1994
• Arromanche 360 – The 100 Days of Normandy
• Youtube Channel – PhotosNormandie, American Films (NARA) on the Battle of Normandy
• Youtube Channel – Dday-Overlord, commemorations, archival images, reports, visits…
• Youtube Channel – Willy Man

Old Images and Postcards

• On Gallica: Calvados in Pictures
• On Clochers de France: the belfries of Calvados in Pictures
• On Memorial GenWeb: postcards of the War Memorials
• On CPA Bastille 91 – Collection of Old Postcards of Calvados
• On CPArama – Old Postcards of Calvados
• On communes.com – Postcards of Caen

Old Maps of the Department

• From Cassini’s Villages to Today’s Communes: the Calvados department
• On Old Maps Online: old maps of the department
• On Gallica: old maps of Calvados

📖 History of Calvados

• History of the Calvados department
• Memoir on the transportation lands of Calvados - 1827
• Catalog of the arts products of the Calvados department - 1834
• Directory of the Calvados department for the year 1836
• Review of Calvados - 1840
• Monumental statistics of Calvados - 1846
• Biographical, literary and critical notices on men of Calvados who distinguished themselves by their actions or works - 1848
• The commanderies of the Templars in the Calvados department - 1869
• Historical accounts of the mobile guard of Calvados (15^th regiment) - 1872
• Geography of the Calvados department - 1874
• The textile regions of Calvados - 1956
• Primary education in Calvados during the Revolution - 1957
• The electoral body of Calvados (1820-1847) - 1960
• Calvados from 1898 to 1914, political and socio-economic insights - 1970
• Peasants of Calvados in the 19th century - 1971
• Cemeteries of Calvados in 1804 - 1976
• Protestants and the Revolution, the example of Calvados - 1977
• Economy, society and politics: Calvados in 1877 - 1984
• Seaside tourism and telephone in Calvados (1880-1914) - 1985
• The centennial of the Revolution in Calvados - 1990
• Jews and Freemasons in Calvados: 1940-1944 - 1991
• Industrialists of Calvados and steam. 1749-1865 - 1993
• The beginnings of cinema in Calvados (1895-1914) - 1993
• Powers at liberation in the Calvados department - 1994
• Team sports in Calvados 1940-1944 - 1995
• The working world in Calvados - 1789-1919 - 1998
• Revolt in Caen 1812 - 2001
• Dénunciation under the Occupation in Calvados - 2004
• Voluntary workers, the example of Calvados 1940-1945 - 2004
• Rural butchery in Normandy in the 18th century - 2008
• Saints and touchers in popular Norman medicine - 2012
• The municipality of Caen and Spanish prisoners of war during the Thirty Years' War (1639-1648) - 2015

On Gallica: the books, the press and the manuscripts to learn everything about the Calvados department

🏠 The 50 Most Common Surnames in Calvados

Top 10 Surnames in Calvados: 

• MARIE
• JEANNE
• MARTIN
• DUVAL
• LEFEVRE
• LEROY
• ANNE
• HEBERT
• LELIEVRE
• GUERIN

The other 40 most popular surnames in the department (according to the INSEE File) : 

• CATHERINE
• MARIDOR
• MICHEL
• DELAUNAY
• LETELLIER
• HUET
• LANGLOIS
• MOREL
• DURAND
• LEFRANCOIS
• HUE
• LEMONNIER
• GAUTIER
• LEGRAND
• MORIN
• BISSON
• SIMON
• DUPONT
• HAMEL
• MADELAINE
• JEAN
• LECONTE
• LEMARCHAND
• GOSSELIN
• FONTAINE
• JAMES
• LECLERC
• RICHARD
• FRANCOISE
• AUVRAY
• THOMAS
• ROGER
• DUBOIS
• AUBERT
• LAURENT
• DAVID
• DENIS
• LEROUX
• LECOQ
• LEMOINE

🗽 Genealogy Sites in Calvados

Genealogy Circles and Associations in Calvados or Surroundings

• Calvados Genealogy Circle
• Racines Association
• Genealogical Association of Bocage Virois
• Parisian Association of Norman Genealogy
• Brittany Maine Normandy Genealogical Help

Genealogy Blogs About Calvados

• Marielle and Genealogy
• Time is Unraveling
• Heaven, My Ancestors

Accounts to Follow on Social Media

• Facebook: Calvados Genealogy Circle – Calvados Archives – Calvados Genealogy 14

Happy researching! 

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