Parish registers and civil status: understanding the differences for your genealogical research

Discover the differences between parish registers and civil status. Practical guide to optimize your genealogical research.

© Archives Hauts-de-Seine

When you begin your genealogical research, you will inevitably encounter two fundamental types of documents: parish registers and civil status records. Although their goal is similar – recording the significant events in people's lives – these two sources differ profoundly in their nature, content, and era. Understanding these differences is essential for conducting effective research and avoiding mistakes that could block your search for ancestors.

This article will guide you through the history and specifics of each of these documents, allowing you to navigate with confidence in your research, whether you are going back to the 16th century or the 19th century.

The history of parish registers: from the Middle Ages to the Revolution

The ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts: the founding act

The keeping of parish registers became mandatory with the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts of 1539, signed by Francis I. This ordinance, consisting of 192 articles, was not only about civil status: it also imposed the use of French in official documents instead of Latin, reformed ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and reduced some prerogatives of the cities.

However, parish registers already existed from the 14th or 15th century in some dioceses. For example, in Sarthe, the oldest parish register preserved at the Departmental Archives is that of Dissé-sous-Ballon dating back to 1515.

A gradual and uneven application

The 1539 ordinance initially concerned only baptisms. Marriages were added to the registers in 1579 by the Ordinance of Blois, which extended the obligation to marriages and burials.

In 1667, the Code Louis imposed the keeping of two copies of the registers, one remaining in the parish, the other sent to the court clerk. This measure allowed securing the documents and ensuring better preservation.

It is important to note that the application of these ordinances was very variable depending on the regions. Some areas like Brittany, where episcopal prescriptions already existed, quickly adopted these measures. On the other hand, the Midi and Southwest were considerably late in applying them.

Content and characteristics of parish registers

The parish registers, kept by the priest of a parish, record baptisms, marriages, and burials (BMS) of Catholics. Note: these are baptisms and not births, burials and not deaths.

Typical content of a baptism record:

• Date of baptism (not necessarily the birth date)
• Name and first names of the child
• Names and first names of the parents
• (Names and first names of the godfather and godmother)

Typical content of a marriage record:

• Date of religious marriage
• Names and first names of the spouses
• Names and first names of their parents
• Names of witnesses

Typical content of a burial record:

• Date of death and/or burial
• Name and first names of the deceased
• Place of burial
• Names of witnesses

The content of the records did not conform to a standard, but rather to the will of the parish priest, and the quality of the handwriting was very uneven depending on the writers. This lack of standardization can complicate your research, all the more so because the records are sometimes written in Latin, which can be difficult to decipher.

Modern civil status: from 1792 to today

The secularization of civil status during the Revolution

In 1792, civil status became secular following the decrees of September 20 and 25. This administrative revolution marked a major turning point: from now on, civil status records, kept by the mayor of a municipality, record births, marriages, and deaths (BMD) occurring in the municipality.

This secularization was accompanied by a fundamental change: from sacraments (baptism, religious marriage, burial) to civil events (birth, civil marriage, death). Registration is no longer religious but administrative.

The creation of decennial tables

From 1793 onwards, to facilitate access to these newly established civil status records, municipalities had to complete decennial tables that group, in alphabetical order of surnames, the dates of birth, marriage, and death of people over a ten-year period.

These decennial tables are a precious tool for genealogists: they allow you to find an act quickly without knowing the exact date of the event. You just need to know the approximate decade and the surname to locate the desired act.

Content and richness of civil status records

Civil status records are generally more complete and standardized than the old parish registers.

A birth record includes:

• Date and time of birth (and not of declaration)
• Name(s) and first names of the child
• Names, first names, age, profession, and address of the parents
• Marginal notes indicating marriages since 1897 and deaths since 1945

A marriage record includes:

• Names, first names, date and place of birth of the spouses
• Profession and address of the spouses
• Names and first names of their parents
• Names and first names of the witnesses

A death record includes:

• Names, first name, age, and profession of the deceased

• Place of death

• Sometimes the cause of death (particularly useful for research)
• Names and first names of the witnesses

The key differences between parish registers and civil status

Covered period

• Parish registers : from 1539 (theoretically) to 1792, with collections generally starting in the 16th or 17th century
• Civil status : from 1792 to today

Nature of the recorded events

• Parish registers : baptisms, religious marriages, burials (sacramental events)
• Civil status : births, civil marriages, deaths (civil events)

Responsible authority

• Parish registers : kept by the priest or rector of the parish
• Civil status : kept by the mayor or civil status officer of the municipality

Standardization

• Parish registers : content and quality very variable depending on the priests, often in Latin
• Civil status : increasingly standardized format, in French, with pre-printed registers from the 19th century

Marginal notes

• Parish registers : absent or very rare
• Civil status : systematic marginal notes for marriages (since 1897) and deaths (since 1945)

Where to consult these documents for your genealogical research?

Preservation and accessibility

Parish and civil status registers over 75 years old are generally kept in departmental or municipal archives, while civil status registers less than 75 years old are still in the town halls.

The good news for modern genealogists: these registers are generally classified in the E and E department series of departmental archives, and most have been digitized and are freely accessible online.

Online resources

Most French departmental archives have digitized their collections of parish and civil status registers. You can generally consult:

• Parish registers from the origins to 1792
• Civil status registers from 1792 to approximately 100-120 years (depending on the departments)
• Decennial tables

Particularities to know

Be careful with special periods:

• Between 1792 and the early 19th century, you will encounter the Republican calendar in the records (example: 15 Fructidor Year VI)
• From September 22, 1798 to July 26, 1800, marriages were celebrated at the canton chief town of the place of residence of the husband or wife, and not in the commune

Post-1792 Catholic registers: After 1792, the Catholic Church continued to keep its own registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials, called "Catholic registers." These private registers can be found in diocesan archives or departmental archives.

Practical tips to optimize your research

Start with the decennial tables

For the 19th century, always consult the decennial tables first. They will save you precious time by directly indicating the year and sometimes the exact date of the desired act.

Always verify the original act

Never rely solely on transcriptions or family trees of other researchers. The original act may contain essential additional information: exact age, profession, witnesses, marginal notes.

Anticipate reading difficulties

Records from before the 18th century can be difficult to decipher. Familiarize yourself with:

• Handwriting of the period
• Ecclesiastical Latin
• Common abbreviations (7bre for September, Xbre for December)
• Sometimes poor condition (blotted ink, torn pages)

Exploit marginal notes

On birth records after 1897, marginal notes indicate if the person got married and where. This is a considerable time-saver for continuing your research.

Think about gaps

Records have been lost due to fires, floods, or other destruction. If you do not find an act for a given period in a municipality, it is likely that the register no longer exists. In this case, turn to other sources: court registers (duplicate copy), notarial archives, censuses.

In conclusion, mastering the differences between parish registers and civil status is a fundamental skill for any genealogist. These two types of documents, although complementary, respond to different logics: religious and sacramental for parish registers, civil and administrative for civil status.

The transition of 1792 marks not only a change in medium, but also an evolution in how French society recorded and conceived life events. Understanding this historical context will help you better interpret the information contained in these precious documents.

Whether it is a baptism recorded in Latin by a priest in the 17th century or a standardized birth record from the 19th century, each document tells the story of your ancestors. With method and patience, these registers will allow you to trace the thread of time and reconstruct your family history over several centuries.

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