Research your French ancestors from the United States

An existing family tree, a census entry, a naturalization document, or a passenger record may contain clues to an ancestor’s identity or place of origin. Share the records you already have, including information that remains uncertain.

We assess how those clues may connect with records in France. A matching name alone is not treated as proof: dates, places, relatives, and supporting evidence are considered together.

Reviewing American documents you provide can help establish a starting point. Additional research in United States archives is not automatically included and must be discussed as part of the project scope.

You may know only a broad region, an unfamiliar village name, or a place recorded differently in several documents. Finding a workable location can be an important first stage before extending the family line.

For families connected with Alsace or Lorraine, we can investigate place names and the historical context behind records referring to France or Germany. These descriptions are clues to assess, not proof of a specific hometown.

You do not need a complete tree to make an inquiry. Tell me what you know and where it came from. We will assess whether the available information supports a focused investigation or whether more starting evidence is needed.

Locating a document is only part of the work. Historical handwriting, unfamiliar terminology, and records written in French, German, or Latin may require careful reading and interpretation.

Depending on the agreed scope, the work may include a transcription or an English explanation of the names, dates, places, and family relationships mentioned in a record.

Genealogy research images, transcriptions, and explanations are not presented as certified civil-status documents or sworn translations. If your request is for an administrative purpose, explain that requirement before commissioning work.

Begin by sending your question and the information you already have through the English contact form. There is no obligation to commission research.

I review the starting evidence and propose research priorities, a scope of work, and a personalized estimate. Any in-person archival visits and related arrangements are agreed before work begins.

The findings are presented with source references, distinguishing documented conclusions from unresolved questions and possible next steps. Deliverables, their language, and the expected schedule are agreed in advance. No particular discovery or number of generations is guaranteed.