Genealogy in Val-de-Marne: The guide to find your ancestors

Genealogy antics-Useful resources to retrace the life of your ancestors from Val-de-Marne: online archives, cards, stories and more ...

Genealogy in Val-de-Marne: The guide to find your ancestors

©️Wikimedia - Claude Villetaneuse

Update: January 8, 2025


Le Val-de-Marne, a French department located south-east of Paris, was created on January 1, 1968 as part of the territorial reorganization of the Île-de-France region. It follows from the merger of 29 municipalities in the former department of Seine and 18 municipalities in Seine-et-Oise. It is bordering on the departments of Seine-Saint-Denis  of the Seine-et-Marne, of theEssonne, of the Hauts-de-Seine and Paris.


This territory, rich in history, saw its landscape evolve due to industrialization in the 19th century, with the development of railway lines and the establishment of various industries.



📜 Archives in Val-de-Marne


The Val-de-Marne Departmental Archives


Go to the Val-de-Marne Departmental Archives:

📍10 Rue des Archives, 94054 Créteil


Contact the Val-de-Marne Departmental Archives:

📞  01 56 71 45 60

📧  Contact the Val-de-Marne Archives


Departmental archives digitized online


Browse the scanned and available online archives looking for your ancestors: 


Municipal archives in Val-de-Marne


Consultez les registres d'état-civil of the commune de Vitry-sur-Seine (1792-1910) directement sur le site des Municipal Archives of Vitry-sur-Seine.


Online acts



Unusual acts




🧳 Migration in Val-de-Marne


Le Val-de-Marne, department of the banlieue sud-est de Paris, a connu au fil des siècles des mouvements migratoires significatifs qui ont façonné sa démographie et son identité culturelle :


  • Middle Ages and Old Regime : From the Middle Ages, the territory of the current Val-de-Marne welcomes various populations, attracted by the proximity of Paris and the economic opportunities it could offer. Trade and travel related to fairs and markets promote the installation of families from different regions of France.


  • 19th century : l'industrialisation transforme le paysage du Val-de-Marne. La construction de lignes de chemin de fer à Vitry-sur-Seine (première ligne en 1839, Paris-Orléans), et l'implantation d'usines (comme la fonderie d'aluminium à Fontenay-sous-Bois, there quincaillerie à Ivry-sur-Seine, there distillerie d'anisette à Arcueil, there tannerie et maroquinerie à Choisy-le-Roi et l'usine de produits chimiques and pénicilline) attirent une main-d'oeuvre nombreuse, principalement issue des campagnes françaises.

    Also, on the banks of the Seine, many residents of the department find themselves working as a sailor, flirtathers or tracker captain.

    Between 1840 and 1880, the population was multiplied by six, from 50,000 to around 300,000 inhabitants. This growth continued until 1936, reaching 685,000 inhabitants, two thirds of which live in urban areas.


  • First half of the 20th century : The two world conflicts of the 20th century lead to population movements linked to mobilization, destruction and reconstruction. After the First World War, Val-de-Marne became a major industrial center, requiring abundant workforce to support the war effort and reconstruction.


  • Tglorious rent : la période des Tglorious rent est marquée par une forte croissance économique et une urbanisation rapide. Le Val-de-Marne connaît une poussée démographique supérieure à la moyenne nationale, avec une augmentation significative de sa population.

    This growth is fueled by the arrival of foreign populations, especially from Portugal. With nearly 83,000 Portuguese, the Department becomes the first historic department for hosting Portuguese immigration in France.


To find out more: 


🎞️ Val-de-Marne in pictures


Videos



Les images et cartes postales anciennes




Les cartes anciennes du department 


  • Des villages de Cassini aux communes d’aujourd’hui : le department du Val-de-Marne
  • Sur Old Maps Online : les cartes anciennes du department
  • Sur Gallica : les cartes anciennes des Val-de-Marne


📖 The history of Val-de-Marne




Sur Gallica : les books, there press and manuscript pour tout savoir sur le department du Val-de-Marne


🖥️ Genealogy sites in Val-de-Marne


Genealogy circles and associations in Val-de-Marne




Accounts to follow on social networks



Bonnes recherches ! 


👋🏻 Your ancestors are waiting for you on Geneafinder, start or import your family tree now

🌳 Quick and free registration - learn more

These items you might like