
Dictionaries
- Contemporary language:
- Word Reference (https://www.wordreference.com/) offers a good selection of words as well as example sentences.
- 18th and 19th century:
- Lexilogos (https://www.lexilogos.com/francais_moderne.htm) allows you to search a number of eighteenth and nineteenth century dictionaries at once.
- Middle French:
- Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (http://www.atilf.fr/dmf/) connects the form of the language used between 1330-1500 to contemporary French.
Glossaries
General Glossaries:
- “A French Genealogy Glossary” from The French Genealogy Blog includes legal terms and more.
- Archives Départementales de La Manche offers help with pre-1789 legal terms. French language only.
- “French Genealogical Word List” from FamilySearch includes words commonly found in birth, death, and marriage records.
- Généalogistes de France explain legal terms as part of their glossary . French language only.
- “Les Métiers de nos Ancêtres” explains the titles used for older occupations. French language only.
- “Old Occupations in New-France and Canada” helps explain the terms used in New France to explain occupations.
- “Vieux Métiers” offers a list of 17th and 18th century occupations. French language only.
Voyageur Terminology:
- https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/nwc/gloss.htm
- “Voyageurs,” The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- “Life of a Voyageur,” Hudson Bay’s Company History Foundation
Paleography Practice
- “Alphabet Chart,” ScriptTutorial from BYU offers alphabet charts you can compare to your sample documents.
Translation Guides
Abbreviations:

Dates:



Vital Records
- When did Quebec start requiring vital records?
- The required civil recording of vital records began in 1994. Genealogy Quebec has a great blog post on this subject.
- Civil marriage was allowed beginning in 1968.
Land Records
- Who holds land records?
- While land registries (extent since the early 19th century) may trace current ownership, land transactions – or deeds – are part of the records of the notary and date back centuries earlier.
- To find records, you’ll need to know the name of the notary:
- For Québec, Robert J. Quintin, The Notaries of French-Canada, 1626-1900.
- To find records, you’ll need to know the name of the notary:
- While land registries (extent since the early 19th century) may trace current ownership, land transactions – or deeds – are part of the records of the notary and date back centuries earlier.
Language History:
- La Langue Française au Québec traces the history of the French language in Quebec.
Baptismal Records:
Burial Records:
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