All Catholic marriages celebrated in Quebec from 1862 through 1871 are now online at PRDH-IGD.com, adding more than 75,000 records to the database.
Of the 150,000 spouses mentioned in these marriages, over 85% have been integrated into the PRDH family reconstructions. They now each have their own family file, in addition to appearing in their parents’ file.
Explore this new data by subscribing to PRDH today!
PRDH-IGD is a database of all Catholic baptisms, marriages and burials recorded in Quebec between 1621 and 1861 – and now up to 1871 for marriages – as well as a genealogical dictionary of families commonly known as “Family reconstructions”.
Every individual mentioned in these records receives their own “individual file” which centralizes the information available on the individual, along with links to the records in which they are mentioned.
In addition, every married couple receives their own “family file”, which fulfills a similar role as the individual file, but for a family unit.
It contains a list of the couple’s children with links to their respective individual files and vital events, as well as additional information about the married couple.
As a result, PRDH-IGD can be described as a detailed family tree of the entire French-Canadian population from the colony’s beginnings to the 1860s.
If you have genealogy experience but are new to Genealogy Quebec, click here.
The Basics of Genealogy
Genealogy is the science dedicated to researching family lineages. But more specifically, what does this research involve?
It all depends on your goal. In fact, there are several types of genealogy, and the scope of your research will depend on the type of ancestry you wish to build.
Linear ancestry
All the direct-line ancestors of the individual of your choice (generally your father) — their parents, then paternal grandparents, and so on. This is the simplest and quickest type of ancestry to complete, and it connects you directly to the most distant direct ancestor bearing your family name.
Complete Ancestry
All the ancestors from whom you descend. This type of ancestry includes every known ancestor in your lineage, with the number doubling each generation: two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, and so on.
Your Genealogical Research in 3 Steps
Whether you’re working on linear or complete ancestry, the key to your research is the marriage record.
Indeed, officiants were generally required to record the names of the spouses’ parents. By finding the marriage records for these individuals, you can trace back to the previous generation, and then repeat the process to go back through the generations.
The marriage record on the left includes the names of the groom’s parents. Using this information, we can locate their marriage record. By repeating this process across generations, it becomes possible to trace the family line back to the very first ancestor who arrived in Quebec.
Step One – Gather Information
To trace your ancestors, the first step is to establish the information you already know — such as names, dates, and places — by speaking with relatives if necessary.
It is strongly recommended to record as much information as possible so you can refer to it during your research.
Step Two – Use This Information to Find a Marriage in the Lineage
It’s now time to use the information gathered in the first step to locate a marriage record in the lineage, which will serve as your starting point.
A search for François Eugène Desjardins’s marriage.
Step Three – Trace Back Generation by Generation
With a marriage record in hand, you are now in a position to trace the ancestors in your lineage. You can go back one generation by finding the marriage of the groom’s or bride’s parents, whose names are listed in your starting marriage record.
To do this, simply search for the names of the groom’s or bride’s parents, as applicable.
Search for Charles Eugène Desjardins’s marriage, father of François Eugène Desjardins.
This process is repeated until you reach the first generation of your lineage to set foot in Quebec, often in the 18th or even 17th century. Depending on the family, you may have to go back more than ten generations before reaching the first immigrant.
Marriage of Antoine Roy Desjardins, the first Desjardins in New France.
Additional Documents – The Little History of Your Ancestors
Tracing the individuals in your lineage is the foundation of genealogy. But once these people are identified, is your research over? Once again, it all depends on your goals.
Some researchers set out to find the children of the couples they’ve traced or to supplement the lineage(s) with birth and death dates and locations for each individual. These additional searches are generally done using birth and death records. However, Genealogy Quebec also offers a wide variety of documents that can add color and depth to your family tree.
On the search engine, you will find the following types of documents:
Obituaries and memorial cards: May contain additional information about the deceased and their family.
Headstones: Provide a place of memory and reflection for your ancestors.
Censuses: Offer a variety of information about the family unit.
Notarial contracts: Give fascinating insight into various aspects of our ancestors’ daily lives.
Postcards: Offer a unique glimpse into the everyday life of our ancestors.
Other miscellaneous documents
You now have all the tools you need to start your genealogical research!
Want to go further? Check out our complete 7-part genealogy guide, which explores each step of the process in detail and supports you throughout your discoveries:
Whether you’re searching for a specific document, an individual, a lineage, or a complete genealogy, Genealogy Quebec’s search engine has got you covered.
The search engine is divided into two sections that operate independently, each with its own features: Basic Search and Advanced Search.
By default, Basic Search is enabled. You can activate Advanced Search by clicking the Advanced Search button.
Basic Search
Basic Search, with its 4 fields, works on a simple principle: you are searching for a specific individual, and the search engine provides you with every document on the site that mentions the individual. The results are ordered according to the probability that the document in question relates to the individual you’re looking for.
The more the information contained in a document matches your search parameters, the earlier it will appear in the results list.
First name(s) and last name(s)
This is where you enter the name of the person you’re looking for. This person can have any role in the document (subject, parent, spouse, godparent, or simply being mentioned anywhere within the document), but documents where the person is the subject are prioritized.
Accents, capital letters and hyphens may or may not be used in your search without affecting the results.
Adjusting the search broadness
Under the first name and last name, you have the option of adjusting the broadness of your search, i.e. the level of difference between the name you entered, and the name found in the corresponding document.
In the year of birth box, it is important to enter the exact or approximate year of birth, not the year of marriage or death.
The engine performs a calculation based on the year of birth to show you results relevant to your search. If you enter a date other than the approximate year of birth, many relevant records will be excluded from the search results.
You can adjust the range of years searched by clicking on +/-.
Location where your ancestor may have resided
The location is used to order and prioritize search results. For example, if two documents contain the name entered, but only one contains the location searched for, the document also containing the matched location will appear first in the results.
You can use the location search box freely, by entering a district, town, region, parish or even a country.
Please note that a match between the searched location and the location listed in the document is not necessary for the document to appear in the search results. The location is only used to prioritize results, not to exclude them.
Advanced Search
Advanced Search allows you to refine your search using additional parameters. It consists of two parts: adding events and adding individuals (coming soon).
Add an Event to the Search
This feature allows you to specify the date and/or location of events related to the individual or document you are searching for.
Available Events
Birth: Add the year and place of birth or baptism for the person you are searching for.
Marriage: Add the year and place of marriage for the person you are searching for.
Death: Add the year and place of death or burial for the person you are searching for.
Residence: Add the year and place of residence for the person you are searching for.
Publication: Add the year and place of publication, prioritizing documents published at that date and/or in that place.
Any Event: Search for a year and/or place appearing in a document, regardless of the event to which that date or place is associated. The year and place entered do not need to belong to the same event.
When you add an event year or location to your search parameters, the search engine uses it to rank the results by relevance. The more closely a document matches your search criteria, the higher it will appear in the results list.
However, you can require a parameter to be present by using the “Must Match” checkbox. When this box is checked, only documents in which this information is explicitly mentioned will appear in your search results.
Search filters
The search engine offers filters that allow you to refine your search results.
Three filters are available: filter by document type and source collection, filter by location, and filter by date.
When you apply a filter, any documents that do not match it are removed from the results list.
For more information about the search engine and usage tips, please refer to our Search Engine User Guide.
Other Tools and Collections
Finally, Genealogy Quebec offers directories of parish registers and various documents, accessible through structured folder trees:
Drouin Collection Records: All parish registers from Quebec and French Acadia, as well as some from Ontario and the Northeastern United States, dating from 1621 to the 1940s.
Drouin Miscellaneous Collections: An assortment of archival fonds, images, documents, books, photos, and directories of historical and genealogical interest.
City Directories: Various city directories and phone books from across Quebec and Ontario, often dating back to the 19th century.
Although these sources are less accessible than the collections integrated into the search engine, they remain extremely valuable and can greatly assist your research.
Finally, feel free to contact us at contact@institutdrouin.com with any questions about the site or genealogy.
Before diving into archives or exploring online databases, the best starting point for any genealogical research is often within your own family. Testimonies, memories, personal documents—these resources form the foundation of your family tree. It is from these elements that you will build your first branches.
Close Family: Your First Source: Start with the people closest to you: your parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, great-uncles and great-aunts. These elders are invaluable sources of information, often providing details not found in official records.
Ask Open-ended Questions: During conversations, favor open-ended questions that encourage storytelling and memory sharing. In addition to asking questions like “Do you know Grandpa’s birth date?”, try “Can you share some memories about your father (or grandfather)? Where did he grow up? Who were his siblings?” These narratives can reveal names, places, professions, anecdotes, and important family connections.
Explore Family Documents Alongside oral testimonies, carefully examine documents preserved within your family. Look for:
Birth, marriage, and death certificates
Family record books
Old photographs (Don’t forget to label them with names and dates if possible)
Letters and postcards
Old identity papers, passports
Wills, notarized deeds kept by the family
Objects with family significance (medals, diplomas, etc.)
Every fragment of information, every name, every date, and every location collected from your close family will serve as a cornerstone for your future archive research. These initial discoveries will help establish solid starting points for further investigations.
Always document the source of each piece of information (who provided it, which document you used, and when it was collected). This initial rigor will be extremely helpful later when verifying and contextualizing your discoveries.
Example: Patrick’s interviews his relatives
Patrick starts by calling his maternal grandmother, Berthe, who is 97 years old and has an astonishing memory. Instead of asking closed questions, Patrick remembers the advice from the lesson and uses open-ended questions.
“Grandma, can you tell me some memories about your parents, my great-grandparents? Where did they grow up? What did they do?” “And your brothers and sisters, Grandma? Do you remember their full names and birthdates?”
Berthe begins telling stories. She explains that her father, Antonio Saint-Pierre, worked on the railroads, which is why she was born in New Brunswick, and that he had a sister named Thérèse. She also mentions that her mother, Aurélie Otis, came from a small village near Matane and had several siblings, including someone named Paul.
Berthe even remembers some approximate dates and anecdotes about their wedding in 1919. Patrick carefully writes everything down, making sure to note that the information comes from his grandmother Berthe. He then turns to his father, Jean Guy. He doesn’t know as many details as his mother, but he remembers that his paternal grandparents, Louis Lefrançois and Clarisse Harrison, lived in Saint-Léon-le-Grand near Matane, and that Louis was a farmer and also served as mayor of that village. He also finds an old wedding photo with a date written on the back: 1907.
Inspired, Patrick asks his parents to dig through their old documents. They find:
The family booklet of his maternal grandparents, Roger Thibault and Berthe Saint-Pierre, which includes their birth, marriage, and death dates and locations, as well as those of their children, including his grandmother Berthe.
An old baptism certificate for his paternal grandfather, Roger Thibault, indicating his birthdate and the names of his parents: Luc Thibault and Ozilda Lévesque.
Some old photographs on which his aunt had taken the time to write names and dates on the back.
Patrick scans or photographs these documents and organizes them carefully.
Organizing Data and Using Genealogy Software
As your research progresses, the volume of collected information (names, dates, locations, events, sources) will increase significantly. It is essential to establish an effective organization method from the beginning.
Organization – The Key to Staying on Track: You may choose a traditional paper-based approach, using individual record sheets for each person and charts to visualize family connections. This method is sufficient for small genealogies or for those who prefer a manual approach.
However, for managing large amounts of data and navigating your family tree more efficiently, using genealogy software is highly recommended.
Genealogy Software: Powerful Tools – There are many genealogy software programs available on the market. Some are free, offering basic features to record your ancestors, their information, and their relationships. Others are paid, providing more advanced functionalities such as online synchronization, analytical tools, detailed report generation, and sharing options.
Among the popular choices, Gramps is a free and open-source option that is highly comprehensive. For those who prefer a more intuitive interface with advanced features, Heredis and Legacy Family Tree are well-known paid references. Finally, for a collaborative and connected approach, Family Tree Maker stands out for its ability to sync with online platforms like Ancestry.
What These Programs Allow You to Do
Create and visualize your family tree in different formats (ancestry, descent, etc.)
Record detailed information for each individual (dates, places, professions, notes, sources)
Link individuals together (parents, children, spouses)
Export/import genealogy data in GEDCOM format, a universal genealogy data exchange standard.
When selecting genealogy software, evaluate your needs and compare available options. Some are easier for beginners, while others offer greater flexibility for advanced researchers. Many programs offer free trials, so don’t hesitate to test them and find the best fit for you!
Whether you choose a paper-based method or software, the key is adopting a systematic approach to organize your discoveries. This will save you time and allow for more efficient progress in the exciting adventure of Quebec genealogy.
Example: Patrick organizes his data
Faced with the sheer amount of information, Patrick decides to download Gramps, the recommended free software. He begins entering all the details he has gathered: himself, his parents, his grandparents, and now his great-grandparents. He creates profiles for his paternal grandparents, Roger Thibault and Berthe Saint-Pierre, as well as his paternal great-grandparents, Louis Lefrançois and Clarisse Harrison, and his maternal great-grandparents, Luc Thibault, Ozilda Lévesque, Antonio Saint-Pierre, and Aurélie Otis. For each entry, he makes sure to note the source (Grandma Berthe, family booklet, baptism certificate).
He sees his family tree beginning to take shape, with names, dates, and places coming together.
Building an Effective Research Plan for Genealogical Investigation
Once you have gathered the initial information from your relatives, it is time to structure your approach. Establishing a research plan will allow you to advance methodically in uncovering your Quebec ancestors.
There is no single universal method—the key is to adopt an approach that works best for you while maintaining a certain level of rigor. This organization will prevent you from getting lost in the growing complexity of your family tree.
Choosing Your Approach: A Matter of Personal Preference: There is no one-size-fits-all method in genealogy—your way of exploring your family tree depends entirely on your personal preferences. Two main approaches are available to you:
Lineage-based Research
Focuses on tracing a single family branch at a time (e.g., paternal lineage: father → grandfather → great-grandfather). Ideal for deepening a specific family line before switching directions.
Generation-based Research
With this method, you explore all individuals within the same generation before moving on to the next. For example, you begin by identifying your four grandparents, then you research your eight great-grandparents, and so on. This approach provides a more balanced overview of your family origins.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Lineage-based research allows for a more linear progression and makes it easier to track a specific family line. Generation-based research, on the other hand, provides a broader perspective of your ancestry at a given point in time.
On the left: A fan chart covering all generations. On the right, a paternal line.
The Importance of Methodology: Avoiding Getting Lost. No matter which approach you take, it is essential to stay methodical. Genealogy can quickly become complex as your family tree expands and the number of individuals grows.
To stay on track and ensure that no branches are overlooked, here are some best practices to follow:
Define Your Starting Point Clearly – Usually yourself or a recent ancestor with solid information.
Set Clear Goals for Each Research Step – E.g., _”Find my great-grandparents’ marriage record.”
Document Each Search Conducted – Record searched sources, dates, and keywords used to avoid redundancy.
Keep Your Family Tree Updated – Add new findings as you discover them.
Review Your Research Plan Regularly – Adjust based on new findings and obstacles encountered.
By choosing an approach that suits you while maintaining a rigorous work method, you will gain efficiency and clarity. This will allow you to make the most of your time and advance with greater confidence in your fascinating exploration of your Quebec roots.
Example: Patrick’s research plan
After organizing his initial data, Patrick thinks about the next step. He has identified his four grandparents and six of his eight great-grandparents. So far, he has more details on his grandmother Berthe’s maternal line (the Thibaults and the Saint-Pierres). He decides to take a lineage-based approach for now, focusing on the Saint-Pierre family on the side of his great-grandfather Antonio. His immediate goal is clear: to find Berthe Saint-Pierre’s birth record and her parents’ marriage record. He notes this objective in the software and prepares for the next stage of his research.
In the next lesson, we will dive into the heart of the subject with parish registers. You will learn how to access them, where to consult them, and how to extract the most valuable information from them.
Tracing your ancestors in Quebec is like embarking on a journey to the heart of your identity. It’s diving into the history of those who shaped this land, discovering their challenges, their courage, and the traditions they passed down to us. Their stories still resonate today in our collective memory, forming an invaluable part of our cultural DNA.
Every name you uncover, every record you find, is a piece of the great puzzle of your past. By exploring your origins, you not only honor your ancestors’ memory but also gain deeper insight into your own story.
This quest is both collective and deeply personal. It allows you to reconnect with forgotten links, understand certain family customs, or simply satisfy your curiosity about your roots.
Why Start This Research?
To better understand who you are, connect with your Quebec heritage, and celebrate those who helped build the Quebec of today.
An exciting journey awaits—one that leads you in the footsteps of your ancestors.
Example: Patrick’s Genealogical Research
At 56, as he begins to look ahead to retirement, Patrick feels the need to reconnect with his roots. With more time on his hands and a growing curiosity about his family history, he embarks on genealogical research to better understand where he comes from. His goal: to trace the journey of his ancestors, preserve his family’s memory, and perhaps even pass this heritage on to future generations.
Throughout this genealogy guide, we will follow Patrick’s research as a common thread. His journey will serve as a concrete example to illustrate the key steps, guide you through your own process, and inspire you to explore your family history.
The Fundamentals of Genealogical Research
Genealogy is both an art and a science—it’s about tracing the history of your ancestors and reconstructing your family tree. To begin this fascinating adventure, certain basic principles are essential—we will explore them in detail in upcoming lessons.
Be Methodical and Organized: Genealogy requires patience and precision. We will discuss how to start small, carefully record every detail (names, dates, locations, sources), and use tools to stay organized.
Start with Yourself and Work Backward: The easiest way to begin is by relying on what you already know. We will go over how to interview relatives and gather family documents to launch your search.
Identify Information Sources: Quebec genealogy offers many valuable resources. While GenealogieQuebec.com will be our main tool, we will also explore other archives and platforms to provide a comprehensive and nuanced approach to genealogical research.
Understand the Different Document Types: During your research, you will come across various types of records. We will take a closer look at parish registers, notarial acts, censuses, and other key documents that will help you trace your lineage.
Stay Curious and Persistent: Genealogical research can sometimes present challenges. We will offer advice on how to stay motivated and explore different paths that may lead to valuable discoveries.
By keeping these fundamentals in mind and familiarizing yourself with the many genealogical tools available, you will be well-prepared to embark on your journey into your Quebec family history.
Our upcoming lessons will delve deeper into each of these aspects to guide you step by step.
The Importance of Reliable Research Tools and Sources
The accuracy of your genealogical journey depends largely on the reliability of your sources.
The Importance of Reliable Research Tools: Powerful research tools greatly facilitate the exploration of vast amounts of structured data. The collections available on Généalogie Québec, such as LaFrance, have been specifically designed to meet the needs of Quebec genealogists.
TheProgramme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH) is also a highly valuable resource for older Quebec genealogy. This academic database is recognized for the rigor of its information and its expert-validated lineage connections, making it extremely reliable for more distant historical periods.
The Need for Reliable Sources: The quality of your discoveries directly depends on the credibility of your sources. Always prioritize original records or high-quality reproductions from reputable institutions (national archives, historical societies) and specialized sites like Généalogie Québec, which strive to properly reference their information.
Be cautious with unsourced information found on collaborative platforms where verification is often limited. While such sites may provide helpful leads, it’s essential to validate any findings with primary sources or authoritative compilations like those available in the PRDH.
By using recognized research tools and relying on rigorous sources, you can make credible and well-founded progress in uncovering your Quebec roots.
Overview of the Most Reliable Genealogical Resources
To explore Quebec’s past, you have access to rich and trustworthy online resources. Here are the key tools that will guide your research:
GenealogieQuebec.com: A major gateway to Quebec genealogy, offering a vast collection of digitized records: parish registers (baptisms, marriages, burials), notarial acts, Quebec and Canadian censuses, and a cutting-edge search engine.
Programme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH): A leading academic resource for early Quebec genealogy, especially for New France and later centuries. Its expert-validated lineage connections make it an extremely reliable source for building solid family trees.
PatrimoineQuébec.ca: Created by Nico Lefrançois, an associate genealogist at Institut généalogique Drouin, this free website is a crucial complementary tool for Quebec genealogy. It features Le Fureteur, a database filled with valuable information, as well as a genealogy book library and historical maps.
Here’s a list of additional Quebec and Canadian genealogy resources:
BMS2000 (Paid) – Index of baptisms, marriages, and burials in Quebec.
Fichier Origine (Free) – Directory of French immigrants who arrived before 1865.
Parchemin (Paid) – Database of notarial acts from the 17th to 20th centuries.
FamilySearch (Free) – Civil and religious records, collaborative family trees.
Ancestry (Paid) – Censuses, civil records, family trees, DNA tests.
MyHeritage (Paid) – International records, user trees, DNA tests.
Findmypast (Paid) – British records with some Canadian collections.
All of these tools will provide a strong foundation for your Quebec genealogical research.
Now that you understand the importance of research and reliable sources, the next lesson will guide you through the concrete steps of starting your own genealogy journey—how to collect family information, organize your data, and establish an effective research plan.
44,000images from the registers of 75 Quebec parishes have been re-digitized in high definition on Genealogy Quebec, offering greatly improved readability.
Re-digitization of the Registers
In total, over 1.4 million images from the Drouin Collection have been re-digitized and enhanced for significantly improved readability — exclusively on Genealogy Quebec.
25% Off Your Subscription
Enjoy 25% off a yearly subscription to Genealogy Quebec when you subscribe before June 28!
There’s no better time to dive into your family history.
The Drouin Collection Records, also known simply as the “Drouin Collection,” consist of digitized images of parish registers (baptisms, marriages, and burials) covering all of Quebec and French Acadia, as well as parts of Ontario, New Brunswick, and the Northeastern United States. The collection spans from the opening of parish registers up to the 1940s, and in some cases, the 1960s.
You can access them with a Genealogy Quebec subscriptionat this address.
Searching in the Drouin Collection
You can search in the Drouin Collection using our search engine, which now offers advanced search features!
We have some exciting news to share! Advanced Search is now available on Genealogy Quebec, allowing you to add the following events to your search queries: birth, marriage, death, residence, and publication.
Explore our collection of over 60 million records like never before with Advanced Search — try it free for 7 days!
You can also try a limited version of the search without a subscription at this address.
How to use Advanced search
To activate Advanced Search, go to the search engine and click on Advanced Search, located to the right of the Search button.
You can then select the event(s) you’d like to include in your search. To learn more and make the most of all the features offered by Advanced Search, we invite you to consult our user guide.
Advanced search feedback
To share your suggestions or report any issues with Advanced Search, please use the feedback form available at this address.
Thousands of families have been added to the Acadia – Families collection on Genealogy Quebec! It’s the perfect time to explore your Acadian roots with this exclusive collection.
Try Genealogy Quebec FREE for 7 days and discover your family history with over 100 million archives.
A credit card is required. The subscription automatically renews to a monthly plan after the trial, unless cancelled. Can be cancelled at any time during and after the trial period.
About the Acadia – Families collection
The Acadia – Families collection contains 190,000 family files reconstructed from Acadian parish records from the 17th to the 20th century.
Each file usually lists a couple and one of their children, with dates of birth, marriage and death for one or more of the individuals listed. Complementary information is also included.
A link to the original source document(s) is often available within the file.
Join the Genealogy Quebec community on Facebook!
Are you passionate about genealogy and want to connect with other researchers? Join the Généalogie Québec Communauté group on Facebook today!
This bilingual community has been created as a place for genealogy enthusiasts to help each other. Come ask questions and share your findings! What’s more, you’ll be able to interact directly with the Drouin Institute team.
48,408 baptism, marriage and burial records have been added to the LaFrance database on Genealogy Quebec. These mid-19th century records are from francophone parishes in Ontario and the United Stats, as well as Protestant parishes in Quebec.
Dive into your family’s history with over 100 million historical archives by becoming a Genealogy Quebec member today!
Get 25% off the yearly subscription until March 28th!
The LaFrance is a collection of birth, marriage and death records from Quebec, Ontario, Acadia and the United States, spanning from the arrival of the first settlers in North America to the present day.
This database includes an index of the Drouin Collection (all Quebec parish registers from 1621 to the 1940s) and the Marriages and Deaths 1926-1997 collection (all marriages and deaths registered by the Quebec government between 1926 and 1997).
Trace your ancestors with these documents and more right now!
More than 60,000 obituaries have been added on Genealogy Quebec!
Explore these documents alongside 60 million historical archives on the website’s new search engine.
And for a limited time, get 25% off the yearly subscription to Genealogy Quebec! There’s never been a better time to dive into your family history.
Newspaper obituaries from Quebec
22,000 obituaries have been added to the Newspaper Obituaries collection. These notices are from all over Quebec and date from 1850 to 2024.
The Newspaper Obituaries collection, available exclusively on Genealogy Quebec, now contains 1,475,000 death notices.These are mainly from Quebec and Ontario, but also from the rest of Canada and the United States.
