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Genealogy reveals major migrations, from 19th-century rural movements to contemporary flows.
Regional migrations have shaped France's past and present. Whether it's rural exodus, professional mobility, or the arrival of foreign populations, every French family carries traces of sometimes unsuspected movements. Thanks to genealogy, it is now possible to reconstruct these paths, understand the reasons for these migrations, and measure their impact on local and national history.
Unlike the image of a massive and linear rural exodus to cities, genealogical research shows that most 19th-century migrations first took place over short distances, between neighboring villages or cantons. The causes are multiple: demographic pressure, lack of resources, search for new professional opportunities, or family strategies to ensure the survival of the heritage.
The example of the Daube family, studied by Paul-André Rosental, illustrates the complexity of these mobilities: before "moving up" to Paris, several members of the family first migrate to neighboring hamlets, often to join relatives or seize a professional opportunity. It is only after several steps that some take the step of urban exodus, thus revealing the importance of family and professional networks in migration.
Starting in the mid-19th century, French industrialization was accompanied by an intensification of regional migrations. Major cities and industrial basins (Paris, Lyon, Lille, Saint-Étienne, Le Creusot, etc.) attracted a workforce from all over France, as well as from abroad. The first waves involved workers from Belgium, Switzerland and Piedmont, soon followed by Italians, Spaniards and Germans, who came to fill the labor needs of emerging industries.
The state began recording nationality and place of birth starting in 1851, which allows us to measure the scale of these migrations: 380,000 foreigners were recorded in 1851, including 63,000 Italians, a number that would reach 330,000 on the eve of the 20th century. These movements contributed to the diversity of regional and national origins of the French population.
The Overseas Departments and Territories (DOM-TOM) also experience their own migration dynamics. After World War II, many overseas residents left their islands to join the mainland, often as part of public policies for integration or family reunification. Conversely, some overseas regions hosted refugees or workers from other colonies or the mainland, particularly in the 1950-1970 period.
The Thirty Glorious Years (1945-1975) mark a new stage, with the massive arrival of Spanish, Portuguese, Maghreb, and sub-Saharan workers, who came to meet the demand for labor in industry and construction. These migrations permanently change the human geography of France.
Genealogical studies reveal these individual and collective trajectories, often invisible in broad historical syntheses. Civil registration records, censuses, marriage contracts, or notary deeds are valuable sources to understand the reasons, methods, and consequences of regional and national migrations.
Major regional migrations, whether rural, industrial, or extra-European, have deeply marked the history of France and its overseas territories. Genealogy offers a unique approach to understand these movements and place each family history within the broader national narrative.
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