Genealogy in Gironde: tracks to find your ancestors

Genealogy antics - Are your ancestors from Gironde? Go on their traces in the archives, registers, with cards, books and useful sites

Genealogy in Gironde: tracks to find your ancestors

©️Wikimedia - Claude Villetaneuse

Mise à jour : 6 mars 2024


La Gironde est un department situé dans le sud-ouest de la France, dans la région Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Créé à la Révolution, il tire son nom de l'estuaire Gironde, qui est le plus grand estuaire d'Europe occidentale. It is made up of part of the old provinces of Guyenne and Gascogne and called "department of BEC-D'Ambès" for a short time. It is the largest department in mainland France. It is bordering on the departments of Moors, of Lot-et-Garonne, from the Dordogne and Charente-Maritime.

From a historical point of view, the Gironde has been inhabited since prehistory, with sites such as the peer-no-peer cave testifying to the human presence about 35,000 years ago. During Roman times, Bordeaux, then known as Burdigala, was a port and a prosperous city. In the Middle Ages, the region experienced a period of prosperity as part of the Duchy of Aquitaine, and it became part of France in the 15th century.

The Gironde is also known for its role in the history of viticulture. The region houses some of the most famous vineyards in the world, including those in the Médoc, Saint-Émilion and Pomerol region.

Like many regions of France, the Gironde department has a rich and complex history. Many families have deep roots there.



📜 The archives of the Gironde


The Gironde Departmental Archives, in Bordeaux


The Gironde Departmental Archives retain more than 98km linear documents.


Go to the Gironde Departmental Archives:

📍 72 Cours Balguerie-Stuttenberg, 33000 Bordeaux


Contact the Gironde Departmental Archives:

📞  05 56 99 66 00

📧  Email



Online archives on the site of the Gironde Departmental Archives


Consult the Gironde Departmental Archives in search of your ancestors: 



Munherepal archives in Gironde


Some large cities have their own archives, accessible online: 


 

Online acts




Unusual acts 


Genealogists have found unusual acts in the archives of the Gironde:




🧳 Gironde migrations

The Gironde department has experienced several migration waves: 


  • For the ancient and medieval period: The region has long been inhabited by Celtic peoples such as Vivisque Bituriges and Santons. At the time of the Roman conquest, settlers settled in Burdigala (Bordeaux) and made this city a shopping and cultural center. 

  • In the Middle Ages : The region welcomed refugees during the Hundred Years War and religious persecutions.

  • In the 17th and 18th centuries : the port of Bordeaux, the port of the moon, specializes in cabotage. Bordeaux becomes one of the largest French ports in terms of trade between France and the Antilles, but also in terms of slave traffic. There is significant immigration of Africans, slaves or servants, who will most often work as servants, cooks, governs or nurses. At the same time, French Protestants (Huguenots) left the region to other European countries or the American continent. 

  • In the 19th century : The department of Gironde is experiencing significant immigration of Spanish, Portuguese and Italians, English, Germans and Dutch who came to work in the vineyards, on the port and in the industry. French, other regions, also settle in Gironde. 

  • In the 20th century : The Gironde welcomes French and foreign refugees during the first and the Second World War. The department also welcomes men of the colonies who came to strengthen the ranks of French soldiers. Spanish immigration is important, they mainly settle in the Saint-Michel district of Bordeaux. The interwar period will be marked by a strong increase in the number of immigrants in Gironde (more than 25,000 - Bretons, Vendeans, Auvergne but also Italians, Spanish and Portuguese). After 1945, many Algerians will settle in the region. 



The port of Bordeaux was an open door to America and South America in particular. Thus, many French people will leave with women and children to settle in Argentina, Brazil or Venezuela (we were talking about it here). 



To find out more about migration in Gironde and Aquitaine:



🎞️ Gironde in pictures


Gironde videos



Images and postcards 




The old maps of the department 


  • Des villages de Cassini aux communes d’aujourd’hui : le department Gironde
  • Sur Old Maps Online : les cartes anciennes du department
  • Sur Gallica : les cartes anciennes de la Gironde



📖 L'histoire Gironde


Sur Gallica : les books, there press and manuscript pour tout savoir sur le department Gironde



🖥️ Genealogy sites in Gironde


Circles and genealogy associations in Gironde




Blogs and genealogy site in Gironde




Accounts to follow on social networks


On Facebook:


On X (ex-owner):


                                                                                     

Good research!



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