Courtesy of Wikipedia
Flag adopted 15 Feb 1794

This post is part of a series about genealogy in France. You can read the complete series HERE.

Before 1792, there was no birth registration in France. The closest record available was baptism records and these contained:

• Date of the baptisms
• Name of Godparents, which included on occasion the occupation of male Godparents.
• Name of Mother
  • Sometimes her father, if mother is a minor
• Date of birth, this is often referred to as previous day or similar, rarely giving an actual date.
• Gender of child
• Given name
• Names of parents
• Occupation of father

After 1792 it is therefore possible to locate both a baptism and a birth registration.