Genealogy in the Jura: Find your ancestors in online archives

Genealogy cheat sheet - Trace your ancestors with our many resources: archives, postcards, books, videos, useful sites…

©️Wikimedia - Benoît Prieur

Updated: March 25, 2024

The Jura department is located in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. It is bordered by the departments of Doubs, of the Haute-Saône, of the Côte d'Or, of Saône-et-Loire and of the Ain.

Historically, Jura has been the stage for several important events. During the French Revolution, the department was created in 1790. Then, in the 19th century, it became an important center of republican resistance against the July Monarchy. The Jura department is also known for its role in the Resistance during World War II.

The Jura department has a rich history, with many families established in the region for centuries. Its industrial heritage, particularly in the field of eyeglass making and diamond cutting, has left traces in the genealogy of the region's families.

📜 The archives of the Jura

The Departmental Archives of the Jura

The Departmental Archives of the Jura today hold nearly 21 km of documents from the 10th century to the present day.

How to get to the Departmental Archives of the Jura:

📍 4 impasse des Archives, 39570 Montmorot

Contact the Departmental Archives of the Jura:

📞 03 84 47 41 28

💌 Contact the archives

The digitized archives of the Jura: search for your ancestors from home

Start your search for ancestors in the digitized and online archives:

Municipal archives in the Jura: complementary local sources

The municipal archives of Besançon are digitized and accessible online. In addition to the classic archives available at the departmental archives, you can consult the municipal council deliberations, the deliberations of Grand Besançon Métropole, the electoral lists, the city plans and representations, the urban planning authorizations or the accounts and taxes (1388-1790)...

Online records

The site JurArchive provides transcriptions of records by volunteers of the association.
The loose records, the marriages, the migrant marriages, the migrant marriages from the Jura, the notary records and records about Protestants in the Jura can be found on FranceGenWeb

Unusual records

Several unusual records in the Jura can be found on the site geneactinsolites (search for department 39 (Ctrl+F))
Unusual testimonies in the archives of the Jura

🌎 Migrations in Jura: Many Departures to Switzerland

Migrations to and from the Jura department have been influenced by economic, political, and social factors for centuries:

In the Middle Ages : Groups of Burgundians (ancient people of Scandinavian origin) and Alamans (confederation of Germanic nations) settled in the region.
In the 16th century : The Protestant Reformation led to migration of Protestants from Jura to neighboring Switzerland to escape religious persecution.
In the 17th century : The wars of Louis XIV explain why soldiers and refugees flocked to Jura.
In the 18th century : Poverty and lack of cultivable land pushed the people of Jura to leave for Switzerland and French colonies in North America.
In the 19th century : Industrialization led to significant migration to several cities in Jura (like Saint-Claude or Morez) to work in eyeglass and diamond-cutting factories. Foreign workers, particularly Italians, were recruited. Meanwhile, people from Jura continued to migrate to Switzerland or overseas countries.
In the 20th century : The two world wars led to population movements in the region. Refugees flocked to Jura to escape conflicts while others left the department to join the armed forces. After World War II, the region experienced significant economic growth that allowed immigration of foreign workers to settle (particularly Portuguese and Maghrebis).

To learn more about migrations in Jura and its region:

Migrations in the Swiss Alpine and Jura worlds from the Middle Ages to the mid-20th century: A brief overview - by Anne-Lise Head-König.
Temporary French migrations in the 19th century. Problems. Methods. Documentation. - by Abel Chatelan.
The history of Italian diasporas. Rooting in Saint-Claude. - a documentary by Jeanne Traon and Renaud Dalmar for France Culture.
The Migrations Besançon-Bourgogne-Franche-Comté site offers several writings on migrations in the region.

🏔️ The Jura in Images: Discover an Important Cultural Heritage

Videos in the Jura

Winter Sports in the Jura – 1912
Gruyère Cheese Making – 1927
Comté Cheese– 1927
Harvest in Arbois – 1957
A Dead End: The Case that Shakes Champagnole – 1959
The Station of the Rousses– 1960
The Christmas Tree Adventure– 1960
Snails and People – 1978
Horns of Plenty– 1978
The Valley of Angels – 1978
Bellefontaine, the Success of a Jura Village – 1980
Gingerbread Made by Children from a School in Arbois – 1982
Today’s Morteau Sausage in Brioche - 1997

Old Images and Postcards

On Gallica: the Jura in images
On Clochers de France: the belfries of the Jura in images
On Memorial GenWeb: postcards of the War Memorials
On CPArama: Collection of Jura postcards
Old postcards of Franche-Comté

Old Maps of the Department

From Cassini’s villages to today’s communes: the department of the Jura
On Old Maps Online: the old maps of the department
On Gallica: the old maps of the Jura

📄 The History of the Jura Department: A Look into the Lives of Your Ancestors

On Gallica : the books, the press and the manuscripts to learn everything about the Jura Department

🗃️ Genealogy Sites to Consult for Research in Jura

Genealogy Circles and Associations in Jura and Surroundings

Happy researching!

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