Mayenne genealogy: archives for your family tree

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Mayenne genealogy: archives for your family tree

©️CPArama

Update: October 3, 2024



The Mayenne department is located in the heart of the Pays de la Loire region. It was formed on January 15, 1790. It extends over a large part of the provinces of Maine and Anjou and held its name from the rivers which surrounds it.


It is bordering departments fromIlle-et-Vilaine, from the Sleeve, fromOrnae, from the Sarthe and Maine-et-Loire.


From a genealogical point of view, Mayenne has several specificities: 

  • A strong rural and agricultural tradition, with many peasant families whose history can be traced over several generations. 
  • The impact of the Vendée and Chouannerie wars at the end of the 18th century, which marked the region and its inhabitants.
  • The presence of many castles and manors, witnesses of a rich nobiliary history. 
  • Relative demographic stability until the 19th century, promoting the continuity of family lines.



📜 The Mayenne archives


Mayenne departmental archives



Go to the Mayenne Departmental Archives:

📍  6 Place des Archives, 53000 Laval


Contact the Mayenne Departmental Archives:

📞  02 43 59 10 90

📧  Contact form



The Mayenne Departmental Archives provide you with several digitized archive funds: 



Laval Municipal Archives


To learn more about the history of Laval and its agglomeration, it is possible to find Laval Archives on -site or digitized documents.



Online acts




Unusual acts




🧳 Migration in Mayenne


The Mayenne department is far from having been an immigration land. On the contrary, emigration even holds a certain place there.


  • Antiquity and Middle Ages : Diablints, Gallic people, will settle in the region before the Romanization of the region. In the age of centuries, Breton populations fleeing the Anglo-Saxon invasions will settle in Mayenne lands. 


  • 16th-18th centuries : Protestantism is developing in the region and the region is experiencing internal migrations linked to the wars of religion.


  • 18th century : The region is experiencing relative demographic stability with few migratory movements. Some families nevertheless emigrate to the French colonies. 


  • 19th century : has la fin du 19th century, there culture et le tissage du lin sont les principales activités du department. Les ouvriers agricoles mayennais émigrent temporairement vers Paris ou les contrées voisines et reviennent au printemps pour les moissons. Cependant, peu d’étrangers sont employés dans la culture. On dénombre surtout un grand nombre d’immigrants bretons pour le travail industriel. Plus tôt, quelques ouvriers tisserands venus de Flandre sont arrivés en Mayenne, aux environs de Laval. 


  • 20th century : l’exode rural du 20th century oblige le department à se réorienter vers la production laitière.
    En 1918, le 1er et le 2e bataillon du premier régiment de chasseurs polonais est établi à Mayenne, le 3e, à Laval. Ce régiment compte dans ces rangs une majorité de soldats de l’armée américaine et de Polonais (ainsi que quelques soldats russes et allemands). 



To find out more:



🎞️ Mayenne in pictures


Les images et cartes postales anciennes




Les cartes anciennes du department


  • On Old Maps Online: old cards of department
  • On Gallica: the cartes anciennes de la Mayenne



📖 The history of Mayenne


On Gallica: the books, there press and manuscript pour tout savoir sur le department de la Mayenne



🖥️ Genealogy sites in Mayenne


Les cercles et associations de généalogie en Mayenne ou alentours



Les blogs de généalogie qui parlent de la Mayenne



Accounts to follow on social networks




Good research! 


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