Genealogy in Manche (50): Find Your Ancestors
Genealogy Cheat Sheet - We guide you through your genealogical research: civil records and archives of 50, acts and registers, old maps, and much more...
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Updated: November 14, 2024
Manche is a coastal department of Normandy. This territory, bathed by the eponymous sea over 350 km of coast, is an interesting area for genealogists.
Created in 1790 during the French Revolution, the department of Manche traces its roots back to the ancient province of Normandy. It historically consists of two distinct regions: Cotentin in the north and Avranchin in the south. It is bordered by the departments of Calvados, the Orne, the Mayenne and the Ille-et-Vilaine.
Manche has rich particularities. Its maritime past has left an indelible mark with archives on sailors, fishermen, and merchants who sailed the seas.
From Viking invasions that gave birth to the Duchy of Normandy, through the Hundred Years' War to more recent conflicts, Manche has been the stage for many events that have shaped its demography and heritage.
Moreover, its proximity to the Channel Islands and shared history with England add an international dimension to research. The conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 notably led to significant Norman colonization across the Channel, many of whose colonists were from the current territory of Manche.
📜 Archives of Manche
Departmental Archives of Manche
Visiting the Departmental Archives of Manche:
🏛 Departamental Council of Manche, 50050 Saint-Lô
Contacting the Departmental Archives of Manche:
📞 02 33 75 10 10
📧 Contact Departmental Archives
The Departmental Archives of Manche offer numerous digitized resources available online:
Online Records
Unusual Records
- A dead man on the voyage to Newfoundland, the weight of the old bell of Champcervon, random marriage dates and much more on the website of J. Marchal.
🌍 Migrations in Manche
Here is an overview of migrations and population movements in the department of Manche and its region:
- Early Middle Ages (5th-10th centuries): one of the most significant migrations of this period is that of the island Britons to the Armorican peninsula (which later became Brittany).
- Middle Ages (11th-15th centuries): the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 led to significant Norman colonization across the Channel. Many settlers were from the current territory of Manche.
- Early Modern Period: moderate immigration of workers from neighboring departments, mainly from Calvados, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes-du-Nord, Orne, Seine, and Seine-Maritime, marked Manche. These migrants mostly settled in cities (Cherbourg, Saint-Lô, and Coutances) rather than rural areas.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the port of Cherbourg became an important transit point for transatlantic migration. Starting in 1922, the harbor recorded an average of 48,000 migrants per year, mostly Europeans from Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Poland, and Lithuania, en route to North and South America. Many foreign consulates were therefore opened in the city. These great travelers seeking the New World had to pass through Cherbourg's Atlantic Hotel, the center for disinfection and health to obtain a health passport, mandatory for boarding and presenting at Ellis Island. One-third of these migrants returned to Europe later. Between 1920 and 1930, nearly 500,000 migrants passed through Cherbourg.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, while the department industrialized with the development of metallurgy and the textile industry (thanks to the arrival of the railway), it remained deeply rural and attracted far fewer foreign workers compared to its neighboring departments.
- World Wars: during World War I, 95,000 Manchois enlisted. 20,000 lost their lives. World War II, particularly the Battle of Normandy in 1944, caused significant population displacements and the destruction of many communes, including Saint-Lô.
For more information:
🏖️ Manche in images
Videos
Old images and postcards
Old department maps
- From Cassini villages to today's communes: the Manche
- On Old Maps Online: old maps of the department
- On Gallica: old maps of the Manche
📄 The history of Manche
On Gallica: the books and the press to learn everything about the department of Manche
🖥️ Genealogy sites in Manche
Genealogy circles and associations in Manche
Genealogy blogs and websites in Manche
Social media accounts to follow
Happy researching !
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