How to Find Puerto Rican Ancestors Using Church Records and Parish Indexes

Introduction

Puerto Rico Church Records and Indexes

In 2012, I led a team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to compile an index of all Puerto Rico municipalities for civil registration records. Near the completion of the project, FamilySearch introduced new images that changed the numbering sequence across the collection, forcing us to pause the project. A few years later, I decided to rebuild the index, beginning with the parish records. After completing this phase, I will continue with the Civil Registration records.

If you want to navigate the vast collection of Puerto Rico parish records digitized by FamilySearch, this section provides a practical guide. Although other websites offer indexes, my website includes additional information that can significantly improve your research. I designed it to be more thorough, precise, and comprehensive than many other resources available online.

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What My Website Offers

My website provides a comprehensive index along with detailed information that goes beyond what FamilySearch currently offers. Genealogists and researchers benefit from access to image numbers, indexed documents, observations about parish books, and references to additional records.

These records date back to the seventeenth century and include many eighteenth-century documents, making them an invaluable resource for Puerto Rican genealogy and history. Through this project, I aim to fill an important gap in the research community by creating a more detailed and user-friendly approach to accessing these records.

If there are specific features of the website that you would like me to highlight, please feel free to contact me. Together, we continue making meaningful contributions to Puerto Rican genealogical research.

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FamilySearch

Unfortunately, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as FamilySearch, did not film every record collection in Puerto Rico. Some jurisdictions, such as Arecibo, denied access to their records. In other cases, parish books were unavailable during the filming process.

Even with these limitations, I hope this information helps advance your research. If you have questions or notice missing information, please contact me by email.

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Welcome to Online Research

Modern technology has made tracing family history much easier than it was for previous generations. Researchers now have access to books and records spanning several centuries. Despite these advances, genealogy still requires patience and persistence.

Many researchers in the past conducted all their work in person, often spending years searching through archives and parish books. Today, online resources allow us to accomplish far more in much less time. Although challenges remain, we should appreciate the access we now have to these historical collections.

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Introduction

In 2012, I led a team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to compile an index of all Puerto Rico municipalities for civil registration records. However, near the completion of the project, FamilySearch introduced new images that changed the numbering sequence across the collection. As a result, we paused the project. A few years later, I decided to rebuild the index, beginning with the parish records. Once I complete this phase, I will continue with the Civil Registration records.

If you want to navigate the vast collection of Puerto Rico parish records digitized by FamilySearch, this section provides a practical guide. Although other websites offer indexes, my website includes additional information that can significantly improve your research. Furthermore, I designed it to be more thorough, precise, and comprehensive than many other resources available online.

---

What My Website Offers

My website provides a comprehensive index along with detailed information that goes beyond what FamilySearch currently offers. Consequently, genealogists and researchers benefit from access to image numbers, indexed documents, observations about parish books, and references to additional records.

These records date back to the seventeenth century and include many eighteenth-century documents. Therefore, they serve as an invaluable resource for Puerto Rican genealogy and history. Through this project, I aim to fill an important gap in the research community by creating a more detailed and user-friendly approach to accessing these records.

---

FamilySearch

Unfortunately, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as FamilySearch, did not film every record collection in Puerto Rico. For example, some jurisdictions, such as Arecibo, denied access to their records. In other cases, parish books were unavailable during the filming process.

Nevertheless, I hope this information helps advance your research. If you have questions or notice missing information, please contact me by email.

---

Welcome to Online Research

Modern technology has made tracing family history much easier than it was for previous generations. Today, researchers have access to books and records spanning several centuries. Even so, genealogy still requires patience and persistence.

In the past, many researchers conducted all their work in person and often spent years searching through archives and parish books. Today, however, online resources allow us to accomplish far more in much less time. Although challenges remain, we should appreciate the access we now have to these historical collections.

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What Is on My Website

I currently focus my research on the municipalities that once formed part of Coamo. Over several centuries, thirteen towns separated from Coamo. However, to create a more complete resource, I decided to analyze all filmed church books because many Puerto Rican families migrated throughout the island.

As a result, this broader approach increases the chances of finding ancestors in unexpected locations. Additionally, the links provided on this website connect directly to FamilySearch. If you discover broken or outdated links, please notify me so I can keep the website current and accurate.

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Research Tips for Puerto Rico Church Records and Indexes

When researching your family tree, explore every possible source. For example, if you cannot locate a direct ancestor, search for siblings and extended relatives. In many cases, this strategy helps researchers break through difficult brick walls.

Additionally, do not limit your research to baptismal records alone. Instead, search marriage, burial, and confirmation records as well. Furthermore, pay close attention to the individual who registered the child because that person may have been the father of a child born out of wedlock.

Likewise, godparents and witnesses often provide valuable genealogical clues. In many families, relatives selected grandparents, siblings, or close family members as godparents. Therefore, by identifying these recurring patterns, researchers can uncover additional family connections.

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Jurisdiction of Arecibo

Arecibo remains one of the jurisdictions that has refused to allow FamilySearch to film its church records. Consequently, many researchers struggle to advance their investigations.

In rare cases, individuals may obtain special permission to review the books directly. Unfortunately, church officials currently restrict public access to these records. Hopefully, future policies will improve access for researchers.

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What Is Available for Puerto Rico Church Records and Indexes

Although some books remain unavailable online, researchers still have alternative resources. For instance, the Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogía (SPG) provides access to many valuable transcriptions through its digital library.

To access these materials, researchers must maintain a paid membership. In addition, the SPG sells numerous transcribed books covering baptisms, marriages, burials, and census records from different towns throughout Puerto Rico.

Moreover, the society maintains a research center containing films unavailable online. Researchers will need to visit the center once it fully reopens following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, this website outlines the resources currently available for each municipality. My primary focus remains on the towns that formed part of eighteenth-century Coamo. Unfortunately, many online resources contain errors, omit books, or present information in confusing formats. For this reason, I carefully reviewed every available book to create a more reliable and visually organized resource.

If a town appears in italics, the church books for that municipality are unavailable online. However, some transcriptions may still exist. Additionally, if you see an asterisk beside a town, please review the accompanying notes section.

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Final Thoughts on Parish Records

If you do not see a detailed breakdown for a town, a book may still exist. Whenever possible, I have provided links below. Likewise, when transcriptions exist, I have shared them with permission from the volunteers who created them.

Additionally, please review the “Additional Notes” section for important information about specific towns. Beyond parish record breakdowns, this website also includes my investigations into Puerto Rican families. So far, I have published more than twenty genealogical articles accompanied by photographs and historical research.

Finally, I maintain over two hundred family trees that I plan to upload to the website in the future.

Good luck with your research!

Municipalities of Puerto Rico – Church Records and Indexes

• Only those shown in red have a link associated with the town. If it is in black, it is not available. Likewise, if you see the font in italics, it means it does not exist or is unavailable.
• The following towns are under Arecibo’s jurisdiction. They are not available online: Añasco, Arecibo, Barceloneta, Cabo Rojo, Camuy, Canóvanas, Ciales, Corozal, Florida, Hatillo, Homrigueros, Isabela, Lajas, Lares, Las Marías, Manatí, Maricao, Moca, Morovis, Orocovis (nonexistent, all lost), Quebradillas, Rincón, Sabana Grande, San germán, San Sebastián, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja.
• When a transcription is donated, it will be included.
• You can also check if censuses are available (see Censo de la Riqueza Article)
• Pending: San Francisco *San Mateo* (Transcriptions Available, see San Juan), and Santurce* will be under San Juan. San Juan (Nuestra Señora de Remedios) is complete.

Adjuntas	Aguada	Aguadilla	Aguas Buenas	Aibonito	Arroyo
Barranquitas	Bayamón	Cabo Rojo**	Caguas	Carolina	Cataño
Cayey	Ceiba	Cidra	Coamo	Comerío	Culebra
Dorado	Fajardo	Guánica	Guayama	Guayanilla	Guaynabo
Gurabo	Humacao	Jayuya	Juana Díaz	Juncos	Las Piedras
Loíza**	Luquillo	Maunabo	Mayagüez**	Naguabo	Naranjito
Patillas	Peñuelas	Ponce	Río Grande	Rio Piedras	Salinas
San Juan	San Lorenzo	Santa Isabel	Toa Alta	Toa Baja	Trujillo Alto*
Trujillo Bajo	Vieques	Villalba	Yabucoa	Yauco

PARISH RECORDS NOT FILMED

• If you see a town listed below with a link, the information provided may assist your research.

Añasco	Ciales	Lajas	Moca	San Germán
Arecibo	Corozal	Lares	Morovis	San Sebastián
Barceloneta	Florida	Las Marías	Orocovis**	Utuado**
Cabo Rojo**	Hatillo	Manatí	Quebradillas	Vega Alta
Camuy*	Hormigueros	Maricao	Rincón	Vega Baja
Canóvanas	Isabela	Mayagüez**	Sabana Grande

**Additional Notes/Transcriptions/Resources

• who has a blog and has written two books available for purchase on AMAZON. Cabo Rojo: I wanted to share some information about Cabo Rojo with you. I recently learned about a gentleman named César Zapata Lozada, who has a blog and has written two books available for purchase on Amazon. These books cover the Baptisms for 1814-1820 and 1820-1824. If you’re interested in learning more about the area’s history, I highly recommend checking them out! Here’s the link: https://genus-meridiem-pr.blogspot.com/
• You can search for his books on Amazon by title or author. His blog references many families he has investigated. It is worth checking out. UPDATE Nov. 19, 2022: The book “Familias de Cabo Rojo” by Ursula Acosta and David Cuesta is available online; see the link above under Cabo Rojo.
• LOíza: Transcriptions available.
• Orocovis: I have some vital information about church records prior to 1885 to share with you. Unfortunately, these records no longer exist due to natural disasters. However, I was able to obtain a few documents from before 1885. Transcribing these records will take some time, but I am happy to assist anyone who needs it. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
• MAYAGÜEZ: Transcriptions for Baptisms, PARROQUIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA CANDELARIA CATEDRAL DE MAYAGÜEZ, PUERTO RICO, LIBRO 6A DE BAUTISMOS 1800-1802, provided by Ivette Izquierdo, 2022.

Sources for Church Records and Indexes:

• FamilySearch Church Records and Indexes
• Icons for images provided by Family tree icons created by Freepik

Donations

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