While many may think of the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame when talking about France, there is so much more history and heritage that is unique to this country. Part of that history includes the people who have moved to France and now call it home.
Knowing the who, when, and why of immigration to France can get you started on your family history journey. There have been several significant events in history that influenced immigration to France. Let’s take a closer look at some of these events and how you can search for your ancestors who might've lived through them.
Immigration to France during the Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution was a time of scientific and technological growth that lead to an increase in manufacturing speed and quality. Groundbreaking inventions included the spinning jenny and the steam power engine.
Most of this industrial growth happened in Britain, but Belgium and France soon joined the movement. By 1848, France had become a strong industrial power, just behind Britain.
As a major player in the industrial revolution and with new machines, France became a popular place for people seeking work. Over the next century, immigration to France boomed. Millions of Europeans came to the country, including large groups of people from Poland, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, and Spain.
If you’re looking for ancestors who lived in France during the industrial revolution, here are some tips for finding the town of origin where they may have lived. You can also search through the French immigration records listed on the FamilySearch Wiki.
The Many French Casualties of World War I
On June 28, 1914, Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, which led to the start of World War I. This war is remembered for its trench warfare, artillery, and poisoned gas. The causalities of many countries involved were devastating and had lasting economic effects.
France had about 6 million causalities during WWI. The Northeastern part of France, which saw the most agricultural and industrial growth, had been ruined by battles there. Stunted industrial production and economic growth were other results of the Great War in France.
These drastic changes in population and production opened the doors again for immigration to France. This time, many people seeking working came from the French colonies. By 1930, a North African Muslim population of 70,000 had moved to the Paris region. Immigrants were also still coming from other European countries like Belgium, Italy, Poland, and Spain.
A Second World War: More Immigration to France
World War II lasted 6 years and was even more destructive than the previous war. More than 30 countries were involved in this war—they all faced the challenge of reconstruction when the war came to an end in 1945. Similar to what happened after WWI, the many casualties of war led to a significant increase of immigration to France.
The 30 years in France after WWII were known as Les Trente Glorieuses (1945–1975). Directly translated to the “Glorious Thirties,” France experienced excellent economic growth during this period, helping the nation recover from 2 world wars. Immigration to France in these years included people from around the world, including those from Algeria, Japan, and Pakistan.
Algeria, a French colony during this time, was experiencing nationalist movements and hoping to gain independence. In 1947, the French National Assembly voted for a statute on Algeria. One of the results of this statute included granting "Algerian men full citizenship in mainland France and instituted unregulated passage between Algeria and France." This reform, along with a lack of societal and financial opportunity in their country, led many Algerians to move to France.
Many Japanese immigrants to France during Les Trente Glorieuses came to experience French culture. For most of these immigrants, these experiences were meant to improve their social status back in Japan when they returned home. Of the Japanese immigrants who decided to stay in France, many found occupations as journalists, high officials, scholars, and professionals.
Culture and education also brought many Pakistani people to France. Students from Pakistan came to pursue degrees in engineering, computer science, medicine, and business.
If you’re looking for an ancestor who lived in France after World War I or World War II, you can search through the recommended historical records on the FamilySearch Wiki.
Immigration Populations in France Today
The rich history of immigration to France helps the country continue to be a diverse home to many from around the world. In the 1970s, immigration policies and restrictions were created. While this did lead to a decrease in immigration to France, there were many immigrants who had already settled there before then.
According to a report from Insee.fr, below is a percentage breakdown of the immigration population in France in 2018 by birth region. Based on the report, most immigrants living in France in 2018 had come from African countries.
- Africa: 46.1%
- Europe: 33.5%
- Asia: 14.5%
- America/Oceania: 6.0%
Discover Your French Ancestors
Whether your family has always lived in France or if they traveled there because of a historical event, you can find them and learn more about their lives. Visit FamilySearch.org, create an account for free, and start searching!
General search for name and dates. Go to relatives and find other info/documentation to find anything about immigration dates, origin location, FS profile, birth country. Visit the Wiki and learn about the immigration specific records available for France and countries their ancestor might've migrated from. Give an idea of what kind of information might be available on an immigration record. Ships, occupation, family member, age, ethnicity, origin town, town going to.
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