Numbers

In French records, there are two main types of numbers used to express figures and dates. The most relevant one is the set of Arabic numbers, which are the ones most widely used today. These are usually easy to read, but some of them are sometimes confusing because their shape could be similar to other numbers (such as 1 compared to 7 and 5 to 9).

The second group of numbers used in French records is the set of Roman numerals. Even though they may show some variations from the ones still used today, they are also usually easy to read. Be aware of the common use of lowercase letters to represent the roman numerals, too (for example, iii instead of III).

We recommend that you check other records written by the same scribe to ensure the correct reading of a particular number. Check the chart of roman numerals below.

• Number Table: M. Hyacinthe Renaud, Ecriture des Nombres. 1860, in M. Hyacinthe Renaud, Paléographie Française ou Méthode de Lecture des Manuscrits Français du XIIIe au XVIIe Siègle Inclusivement, (Rochefort: Imprimerie Ch. Thèze, 1860), pV Digital Image, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/: accessed 8 April 2024). This image is in the public domain.