Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

French genealogy terms

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Karen

Karen Report 17 Jun 2004 10:12

Hi, I'm currently working from a genealogy prepared for the Swiss side of my family. Most is easy to decipher, even with my rusty French, but I wonder if anyone could enlighten me about a couple of terms? Or suggest some places to look (I've had a general Web search but haven't found a definitive answer). What I want to know is: 1) 'teste' - term used when dates of birth, death etc are unclear, ie 'teste en 1530'. What does it mean in this context? I have been told it means 'witnessed' - but what does that mean exactly? Any ideas? 2) the difference between a child born out of marriage who is 'legitime' [there's an accent on the final e] and one who is 'reconnu'? Is there a legal difference? Answers gratefully received! karen

Geoff

Geoff Report 17 Jun 2004 10:19

The verb "tester" means to make ones will. I would imagine that "legitime" would mean that the child had been legitimised by the parents later marrying. Reconnu means recognised - I would imagine that the father had acknowledged paternity (but they hadn't married?)

Karen

Karen Report 17 Jun 2004 12:27

Thanks Geoff - 'teste' certainly makes sense in that context. On the 'legitime' subject - I have no record of the parents subsequently marrying, although the child does have the father's surname. Could a child be 'legitimised' any other way?