Luxembourg Church Records

Luxembourg

Some parish registers in Luxembourg go back to the early 1600s, but most do not start until 1779. A number of registers have been destroyed or lost; other registers are in the hands of individuals and church officials who guard them jealously.

In 1797 when the official état civil (civil registration) was introduced, a French order required that the priests turn their parish registers over to the communities (civil jurisdiction). But the clergy, mistreated by the French regime, obeyed this order only partially. Thus beginning with that date part of the registers were deposited with the local civil government (communes) and part of them remained in the hands of the clergy.