While civil records in France and in Spain have experienced different histories and are accessible in different ways, the distinct nature of the Basque Country, regardless of which side of the Pyrinees we are, makes it necessary to have a single approach for anyone researching their Basque ancestors.
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Civil records in the Spanish Basque CountryCivil records in the Spanish Basque Country
After two unsuccessful tries in 1823 and 1841, the Civil Registry was finally created in Spain in 1870[1] and started being effective on January 1st, 1871. Thus, the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre have registered birth, marriage, and death records since then. Please note that up until 1900 (except in Navarre) we still have Catholic Church records which registered virtually everyone, so the Civil Registry usually offers little advantage with respect to church records in the 1871-1900 period. By a 1986 Law, all such records are available to any citizen at no cost. They are not digitized or directly available online, however, which means that there is a specific webpage to request them; they will then be sent, if found, by post to any address indicated. A motive needs to be provided to ask for any certificate, but usually generic reasons such as “gestiones personales” will suffice.
It is possible to request specific certificates from the Spanish Civil Registry online:
Options are provided in any of the three cases above to process the request. If the researcher cannot be digitally authenticated through the CL@VE system of certificates, the request will be directed to one of these 3 links, respectively, for Births, Marriages and Deaths.
The researcher will eventually have to provide the name and surnames of the person whom certificate is being searched, and the place and date for the birth/marriage/death. Obviously the more accurate the data, the higher the chances that the record will be found.
Please be advised that, for many smaller municipalities, the full-online process is not possible, so the researcher will be provided with an e-mail address through which direct contact can be made with the local Justice of the Peace. Responsiveness and success in these cases varies.
Civil records in the French Basque CountryCivil records in the French Basque Country
In the French Basque country, civil records became mandatory after the French Revolution, in 1792, as part of the legal reforms implemented by the French government.[2] While the system is similar to the system in Spain, there are some notable differences; in the French Basque Country, the Civil Registry includes the following key records:
- Birth Records (Actes de Naissance): These records document the birth of individuals, including their names, dates, and places of birth, as well as parent details.
- Marriage Records (Actes de Mariage): These records document marriages, including information about the bride and groom, their ages, and the date and place of marriage.
- Death Records (Actes de Décès): These records document the death of individuals, including the deceased's name, age, date of death, and cause of death, as well as details about the informant (usually a relative).
It is important to keep in mind that in the French Basque Country, records are primarily written in French, but some older records, particularly those before the 19th century, might be in Euskera, especially in rural areas.
Accessing Civil records in the French Basque CountryAccessing Civil records in the French Basque Country
As in the rest of France, civil records in the French Basque Country are usually kept at local Mairies (town halls) or Archives départementales (departmental archives).
For records that are within 100 years of being issued, it is possible to contact the Mairie (town hall) where the event occurred. Each municipality in the Basque Country has its own Mairie, and records can usually be requested by mail or in person. In order request records, you will need to provide specific information such as the name of the individual, the date of the event, and the town where it took place. It may be helpful to explain the purpose of your request (e.g., genealogical research). It is also possible to contact the relevant Mairie by snail mail or e-mail, providing details such as names, dates, and towns. Some Mairies may have online request forms, and they may charge a small fee for providing copies of certificates. Requests should be submitted in French.
For older records, especially those older than 100 years, you may need to consult the Archives départementales des Pyrénées-Atlantiques. These archives hold historical civil records from the entire department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, which includes the Basque municipalities of both the French Basque Country and other nearby regions. The Centre Généalogique des Pyrénées-Atlantiques is also available. The online archive portal of the Archives can be used to search for records in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. These digital records are freely available and can be downloaded directly from the website.
See alsoSee also
Explore more about civil records in the Basque CountryExplore more about civil records in the Basque Country
- The Basque People: Who Are the Basques? on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
References
- ↑ El Registro Civil de 1841-1870, 30 años de provisionalidad. Manual de Genealogía
- ↑ Genealogy Guide: France. Center for Jewish History