1. Historical Resourcespuerto Rican Genealogy History
2. Historical Resourcespuerto Rican Genealogy Ancestry

Births in Puerto Rico often occurred at home. A parent or other relative would have to register the birth at a municipal office, and this is where we get the 'Acta de nacimiento', or birth register. Below is a glossary of the terms and phrases shown in these documents:

The beginning of the birth register should indicate in what municipality/town the birth was registered. Depending on where your ancestor was born, their birth record might show a different municipality than their adult home address.

Puerto Rico, Registro Central de Esclavos, 1872 (in Spanish) Register of people who were enslaved in Puerto Rico in 1872; Puerto Rico, Records of Foreigners, 1815-1845 - documents are in Spanish, handwritten, and not indexed. Puerto Rico, Records of Foreign Residents, 1815-1845. Includes naturalization records for foreigners in Puerto Rico. Caribbean Genealogy Research Country Resources Puerto Rico (Thanks to Ann) More information and accuracy is always welcome. Please send corrections, updates and additions HERE Updated 29 July, 2008. Slave schedule to Puerto Rico 1872 Slave register 1867 - 1876 Foreigners in Puerto Rico, ca. 1807 - 1880 Emigration and Immigration 1816 - 1837.

The text of the birth register document reads as follows:

Genetic genealogy is a rapidly growing field. The potential for genetics to make genealogical connections and break brick walls is starting to be untapped. This is more so for Latin American and Caribbean societies where limited or non-existent. Guide to Puerto Rico ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Register of Birth

In the [name of municipality/town], at [numerical hour of the day] on the [numerical day] of the [month] of the [year spelled out in words], before [name of Judge], Judge of the Municipal District of [name of District], and [name of Secretary], Secretary, appeared [name of declarant], of [hometown (country, if not Puerto Rico)], adult, of [marital status], [profession], and resident of [street address and number], in order to register a [daughter / son], and to do that as [relationship to child]:

That said [daughter / son] was born at the home of the declarant on [xx day of xx month].

That this child is the [legitimate / acknowledged / illegitimate] child of the declarant and [information about other parent; this section might include information on grandparents, as well].

That this child is [granddaughter/grandson] of [paternal grandfather's name], [aged xx years / deceased], and [maternal grandfather's name], [aged xx years / deceased].

And that this child has been given the name [name of child].

All of which was been witnessed by [names and titles of witnesses].

Sealed by the Municipal Court Judge, declarant, and witnesses.

Some useful phrases in translation:

mil novecientos = 19__ (rarely, 'mil ochocientos' = 18__)

comparecio = appears

legitimo = legitimate

natural = illegitimate

ya difunto = deceased

de __ años de edad = is __ years old

Some records also list the race of the child, which literally translate as: blanca/o = white; mestiza/o = literally 'mixed', typically refers to a person of Spanish and Native American ancestry; mulata/o = a person with one parent of African descent and one parent of European descent; negra/o = black; parda/o = brown; triqueña/o = 'three cultures'.

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