Genealogy in Charente-Maritime: useful online archives

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Genealogy in Charente-Maritime: useful online archives

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Update: October 3, 2024



La Charente-Maritime, coastal department located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, is a territory rich in a millennial maritime and land history.


Created at the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790, the Department of Charente-Maritime is located on the northwest part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and takes its name from the river and its coast. Note that this department was better known as Charente-Inférieur until 1941.


It is bordering on departments of Sold, of the Deux-Sèvres, from the Charente, from the Dordogne and Gironde.


From a genealogical point of view, the Charente-Maritime has several specificities: 

  • A strong maritime tradition, with many families of sailors, fishermen and traders linked to port activities, notably in La Rochelle and Rochefort.
  • The impact of Protestantism, particularly present in this region in the 16th century, which influenced population movements and civil status registers.
  • A story marked by migration, notably towards New France (Canada) in the 17th and 18th centuries. 
  • L'importance de l'industrie du sel and viticulture, qui ont façonné l'économie locale and structures familiales pendant des siècles.


📜 The archives of Charente-Maritime


The Departmental Archives of Charente-Maritime



Go to the Departmental Archives of Charente-Maritime:

📍  85 boulevard de la république, 17076 La Rochelle


Contact the Charente-Maritime Departmental Archives:

📞  05 46 31 70 00

📧  Contact form



Find your ancestors in the digital archives of the department: 



Online acts




Unusual acts




🧳 Migrations in Charente-Maritime


Antiquité et Moyen-Âge : des populations celtes puis romaines s'installent sur le territoire. Au Ve siècle, of the Francs et des Wisigoths arrivent en Charente-Maritime. Il faudra attendre les IXe et Xe siècles pour que des raids Vikings entrainent des déplacements de populations côtières. 


XVIe-XVIIe siècle : le développement du protestantisme attire des populations des régions voisines. Mais à la révocation de l'Edit de Nantes (1685), les huguenots émigrent vers l'Angleterre and Pays-Bas. A cette période, les premiers migrants partent vers la Nouvelle-France (actuel Québec). 


18th century: emigration to New France continues and became particularly important from La Rochelle. The Rochefort arsenal is developing.


19th century: industrialization explains an important rural exodus to the coastal cities of the department (La Rochelle, Rochefort and Royan). Immigrants from various provenances arrive in La Rochelle because of its contacts with the colonies, America, the North Sea and thanks to trade. They are Italian, Austrian, Spanish and Polish, among others. 


XXe siècle : au moment de la First World War, of the réfugiés arrivent du nord de la France. The department also has a development of temporary immigration linked to seaside tourism. The wealthy circles of France and Europe go to Royan, Châtelaillon or La Rochelle. 

Pendant la Second World War, l’implantation allemande est importante à La Rochelle et Royan.



To find out more:



🎞️ Charente-Maritime in pictures


Videos




Les images et cartes postales anciennes




Les cartes anciennes du department




📖 The history of Charente-Maritime



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




💬 The 50 most worn surnames in Charente-Maritime


Top 10 surnames in Charente-Maritime: 

  • Moreau
  • Bernard
  • Martin
  • Renaud
  • Roy
  • Richard
  • Rousseau
  • Giraud
  • Guerin
  • Robert


les 40 autres noms de famille les plus populaires dans le department (d'après le INSEE file): 

  • Durand
  • Robin
  • David
  • Girard
  • REDHEAD
  • Texier
  • Garnier
  • Bertrand
  • Michaud
  • Bouyer
  • Morin
  • Mercier
  • LITTLE
  • Thomas
  • Blank
  • MASS
  • Good
  • Bonnin
  • Seguin
  • Guy
  • Vinet
  • Pebble
  • Menard
  • Bertin
  • JEANS
  • Bouchet
  • Faure
  • Besson
  • Gautier
  • MartinEAU
  • Guillon
  • Mounier
  • Dubois
  • Brunet
  • Arnaud
  • Boutin
  • Tessier
  • Naud
  • CAP
  • Tap


🖥️ Genealogy sites in Charente-Maritime


Les cercles et associations de généalogie en Charente-Maritime ou alentours




Les blogs de généalogie qui parlent de la Charente-Maritime




Accounts to follow on social networks




Good research! 


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