French Roots exists to help the many people of French descent, in the United States, Canada, and around the world, rediscover where their families came from and what that heritage means today. France’s records are among the richest in the world, but they are written in another language, organized by a system of communes and départements that is unfamiliar to most outsiders, and scattered across dozens of websites. We aim to make them approachable for everyone, whether you are opening your family history for the first time or pushing a stubborn line back across the Atlantic.
What we cover
- practical guidance on French genealogy records, from état civil to parish registers and notarial acts;
- ancestry by region, including Brittany, Normandy, Alsace-Lorraine, the Basque Country, and Huguenot families;
- the origins and meanings of French surnames, and how they changed in new countries;
- clear, current information on French citizenship by descent;
- honest comparisons of DNA tests for French ancestry, plus guidance on heritage travel.
How we work and how we are funded
French Roots is reader-supported. Our primary affiliate partner is MyHeritage, which owns the French genealogy company Filae and offers extensive French record collections and a large European DNA database. When you sign up through one of our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. We recommend MyHeritage first for French research because of that fit, and we describe other platforms honestly where they are the better choice for a particular job. Full details are on our affiliate disclosure page.
We are a genealogy and heritage resource, not a law firm or government agency, and we always encourage you to verify legal questions with the appropriate professionals. Questions or corrections? We welcome them. See our contact page.