Genealogy Chat

If you think an ancestor is born in France - or came from France - where do you start? What is available and how can you go about it? Is there anything available online?

Thanks

Laura

That all depends on whether you mean born in France, or French. If they were British (ie parents were British) and just happened to be born in France they could still appear in GRO births indexes, but not the standard England and Wales on that you see on freeBMD.

The various military and other overseas indexes are searchable on findmypast and familyrelatives website (for a fee)

I think they're french. Surname Venour... it may be that this person's father was born in England, but before that they would have come from France (or so the family tell me!)... This is actually for my uncle's tree (by marriage) and am only just starting to look into it. I know I can get her birth certificate and will do this maybe on pay day, but for now I was just wondering if there is anything I can check out online.
Thanks
Laura

sorry, just to clarify, as in born in France (previous generations)

So what year is the earliest British GRO record you can locate for the family?

Well, my uncle's mother was Phyllis Doreen Venour born 1928, Mile End, East London. Her father we think was called Albert Victor Venour, who married Florence Mercer Jul 1924, London (Mile End). (1c 635)

He was born Jun 1902 - 1c 509 Mile End.

It may be that his family are in England on the 1901 census, but I don't know his parents names until I/my uncle buy the certificate. However, my uncle's brother is certain the family came from France... whether that is around 1900 or way before, I'm not sure!

Just thought I'd ask around so that when I do go back to looking at this part of the tree I'll know where to look!

Thanks Pete

Laura

Hi Laura,

In order to get bmd info from France you will need to know where the birth, marriage or death took place in France, ie which town. If you have this info you must then write to the town's Mairie (town hall) which have records of all local bmds. Records are not held centrally in France.

Also France has a strict 100 yr rule so you will not be able to apply for any bmds after 1907.

Gillian

Thanks Gillian

Laura

Hey, Albert Victor was in the Navy: £3.50 to download his records

Description Name Venour, Albert Victor
Official Number: J79104
Place of Birth: Mile End, London

Date 21 March 1902
Catalogue reference ADM 188/805
Dept Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies
Series Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services
Piece 79001-79500



Laura, looks like it they were French it was a good few generations back IF this is her ancestors: may be they are a totally different bunch and its just coincidence. Think you are going to have to ask that chap to pay the £7 for the marriage cert. Meanwhile, just in case this lot come in handy:


Theres this lot in Mile End in 1901:

Name: Edward L Venour
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Frederick W
Mother's Name: Clara
Gender: Male
Where born: Mile End, London, England

Civil Parish: Mile End Old Town
Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter Stepney
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Mile End Old Town
Sub-registration district: Mile End, Old Town, Eastern
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 290
Household Members: Name Age
Clara Venour 31
Edward L Venour 8
Frederick W Venour 34
Frederick W Venour 10

or this bunch:

Name: Henry J Venour
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Male
Where born: London, England

Civil Parish: Mile End Old Town
Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter Stepney
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Mile End Old Town
Sub-registration district: Mile End, Old Town, Eastern
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 291
Household Members: Name Age
Alice Venour 11
Annie E Venour 7 months
Caroline Venour 7
Elizabeth Venour 38
Frederick Venour 9
Henry J Venour 44
Lilly Venour 5


Ive deleted some earlier stuff cos I think it may just confuse the matter. You need to get that navy record and the birth/marriage certs. Certainly no French born Venours leapt out of the census - in fact there is big group of them in Warwickshire too.

That's what I thought. I know it seems like a french surname, but if it is French, I think it may be quite a way back. Will see about getting that certificate - my uncles' brother is on here too, just getting started, so he may do it. I knew there were loads of Venours around in that area- think it will be a case of getting that certificate and going from there!

Serves me right for trying to cut corners ;) lol

Thanks again for the help - will see about downloading that record!

Laura

Course, you could look out for Venners too :)

good point :)

Try this websitehttp://www.your-family-history.com/v/venour-family-history.php.
I think the French version of Vanner is Vanier/Vannere my 3xg grandmother was a Vanner.