Puerto Rican Migrationpuerto Rican Genealogy

Puerto Rican Genealogy/Hispanic Genealogy

1. Puerto Rican Migrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Ancestry
2. Puerto Rican Migrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Society

If you have a curiosity about Puerto Rico, its history, and/or your family history, or perhaps you have hit a brick wall, have no time to research, or simply need help finding an elusive ancestor simply ask us for help. We invite you to become a part of our growing community of researchers. (View samples of documents in our holdings). Puerto Ricans Total population c. 9 million Puerto Rican Diaspora: c. 6 million Regions with significant populations Puerto Rico (U.S. Territory) (2018) 3,064,018 United States (Stateside Puerto Ricans) (2018) 5,791,453 Dominican Republic (2015) 15,763 U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S. Territory) (2010) 10,981 Canada (2016) 3,405 6 Spain (2010) 2,640 7 Mexico (2016) 1,359 8 United Kingdom (2011. Puerto Rico Online Genealogy Records This chart shows links to countrywide collections. To find links to collections for lower jurisdictions (such as a county, town, or parish), go to Locating Online Databases.

Before embarking on a search for your ancestors from Puerto Rico, it is very important to have a good background in the history and culture of Puerto Rico. Most birth, marriage and death records are kept at the local or town level so it is crucial to know the town(s) your ancestors came from. Additionally, it is important to know that the Catholic Church played a large role in Puerto Rican Society. Church records, also kept at the local level, provide valuable information about baptisms, marriages, First Communions, Confirmations, etc. A solid understanding of the roots of Hispanic surnames or family names is necessary because on official records, both the maternal and paternal surnames were used. Having an understanding of these names will help in the record deciphering process. Below is a list of books that cover much of the background understanding that will aid in a successful genealogy search. There are also a number of websites which are great sources for searching records and all of the websites listed below have detailed explanations and directions about how to best go about a search.

Image source: http://robertospuertorico.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PR-Topo-1886-with-regions-in-color-225.jpg

Compiled 2019

Puerto Rican Migrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Ancestry

Image source: http://robertospuertorico.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PR-Topo-1886-with-regions-in-color-225.jpg

Compiled 2019

Puerto Rican Migrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Ancestry

• 1Online Records

Online Records[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Puerto Rican Migrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Society

• 1807-1880 - Extranjeros (Foreigners in Puerto Rico), ca 1807-1880 at FamilySearch — images
• 1815-1845 - Puerto Rico, records of foreign residents (Puerto Rico, registros de extranjeros), 1815-1845 at FamilySearch — images
• 1816-1837 - Emigrados, 1816-1837FamilySearch — images
• 1901-1962 - Puerto Rico, Passenger and Crew Lists 1901-1962 at Ancestry — index and images $

Naturalization and Citizenship Records[edit | edit source]

• 1795-1889 - Pasaportes (Passports), 1795-1889, at FamilySearch — images
• 1815-1845 - Puerto Rico Records of Foreign Residents, 1815-1845, at FamilySearch — images; Also at Ancestry.com($) — images
• 1897-1985 - Puerto Rico, Naturalization Records, 1897-1985 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1899-1900 - Declaraciones de naturalización (Naturalization Records), 1899-1900,at FamilySearch — images
• 1900-1981 - Puerto Rico, naturalization records, 1900-1981, at FamilySearch — images

Migration Patterns[edit | edit source]

Puerto Ricans are by law citizens of the United States and may move freely between the island and the mainland. Puerto Ricans 'were collectively made U.S. citizens' in 1917 as a result of the Jones-Shafroth Act. Therefore, a Puerto Rican person moving to the United States will not have a naturalization record because they are already citizens.

Emigration is a major part of contemporary Puerto Rican history. Starting soon after World War II, poverty, cheap airfares, and promotion by the island government caused waves of Puerto Ricans to move to the United States, particularly to the Northeastern states, and Florida. This trend continued even as Puerto Rico's economy improved and its birth rate declined. Puerto Ricans continue to follow a pattern of 'circular migration', with some migrants returning to the island. Source: Wikipedia Game 198: april 6, 2018the initials game.