Would you like to connect ancestors from Puerto Rico? Join the Puerto Rican Roots Project! [closed]

Question

The Puerto Rican Roots Project focuses on adding ancestors and cousins with Puerto Rican roots to our Global Family Tree. 

Many of us are able to connect right up to this tree when we join, so three-quarters of the profiles on WikiTree are connected to each other. Other communities are less represented on WikiTree - about three-quarters of the ancestors with Puerto Rican heritage are connected to their family members, but not to the larger tree.

The Puerto Rican Roots project Connectors work on those unconnected families and profiles. We collaborate on the profiles of individuals and families directly associated with Puerto Rico, editing and improving those profiles, contributing proper source citations and providing help and support to WikiTree members who manage profiles that have some relation to Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican Roots Project is open to anyone who has an interest in the history or genealogy of Puerto Rico. 

If you like making connections and helping others with their Puerto Rican research, the Puerto Rican Roots project is the place for you. Just answer this question below and we'll get you a badge and a welcome!

---

El proyecto Puerto Rican Roots comparte el propósito del proyecto Latin American Roots, con el cual está asociado, colaborando en publicar a WikiTree los perfiles de las personas y las familias directamente relacionados con Puerto Rico, al mismo tiempo editando y mejorando esos perfiles, citando las fuentes de datos apropiadas y proporcionando ayuda y apoyo a los miembros de WikiTree que manejan perfiles o árboles genealógicos que tienen alguna relación con Puerto Rico. El proyecto Puerto Rican Roots está abierto a cualquier persona que tenga un interés en la historia o genealogía de Puerto Rico. A medida que vaya creciendo el número de los socios de WikiTree, y de los perfiles, las familias y la cantidad de información, es posible que de vez en cuando decidamos separar del proyecto a algunos municipios o regiones para formar de ellos algunos sub-proyectos adicionales.

Este proyecto existe para poder reunir a los miembros de WikiTree que están interesados ​​en agregar y mejorar los perfiles de las personas directamente vinculadas con Puerto Rico. Nuestros principales objetivos son crecer y mejorar los árboles de estos residentes de Puerto Rico y aprender más sobre sus vidas y sus familias.

Si te gusta hacer conexiones y ayudar a otros con sus antepasados de Puerto Rico, el proyecto de Puerto Rican Roots es el lugar para usted. Sólo tienes que responder a esta pregunta y te daremos un distintivo y una bienvenida!

Comments

Would like to join the Puerto Rican Roots Project. Tks

---

Charles, you're in! Could you start an answer to this question and let us know where you'd like to focus? Thanks!

---

Hi, I am interested in joining! My Puerto Rican family history gets pretty confusing/messy in the 1800s due to my great-grandfather, Placido Zambrana, having had three wives. My family's paternal line is Zambrana with my grandmother's side being Ortiz, and cousins who are Perez and Norat (which I learned might actually be "Norata," due to an ink glob on a U.S. Census!).

I have a problem, though: I started doing a family tree for my father's side of the family (from the Coamo area) only to realize that Wikitree lists Hispanic last names differently, with "y" instead of a dash, so I've inadvertently duplicated info that's already on the side. If there's anyone who can hold my hand and walk me through how to fix this mistake and link up with the Wikitree for the Zambranas, I'd be grateful!

---

I’d be happy to help! I just can’t see who’s writing as you weren’t logged in. Maria? Elliott? Someone else?

---

Hello - I'd like to join this project. My Grandfather, Carmelo Mercado,  was born in Isabela in 1902. Family names include: Mercado, Serrano, Perez, Nieves. I have taken an Ancestry DNA test and have found thousands of connections.

---

I'd like to join, too.

---

I am very much interested in the Puerto Rican Roots project. I have been building my family tree for several years now. I'm especially interested in the following surnames: RUIZ from Añasco and Rincón, ALVAREZ from Añasco and Mayagüez. BAEZ from Río Grande, and CARRERO from Rincón.

---

Hello,

I would like to join and assist the project. I recently took on the role of family historian.  I am puerto rican and am from the Suarez, Maldonado from Corozal and Casiano, Alvarez, Mercado, Ojeda, Rodriguez of Sabana Grande.

Look forward to meeting other novice genealogist and hopefully some new relatives!

Jennica

---

I would like to join this project.

---

I am interested in joining the Puerto Rican Roots project.  I was born on the island and have deep roots on some of my line out to the 1500s.  Another line is African, other line pretty quickly goes out to Spain.  I know that I have native DNA and am interested in exploring any information on how indians were listed in sources.

Answer 1

I would like to join the Puerto Rican roots project and expand my family tree. My family names include Roman, Borges, Flores, Cebollero, Lopez and Torres.

Answer 2

We do have a number of "Roots" projects, so having a "Puerto Rican Roots" project is consistent.

But I would post the question of whether the project is restricted to the Puerto Rican ancestors of people who don't now live in Puerto Rico (I.e. they now live in Maryland or New Jersey), or whether it encompasses people who currently live in Puerto Rico?  

As an American, I have English Roots, and it is true that when my attention crosses the pond, I'm more interested in the 1600s and 1500s when my English and Welsh ancestors lived than in the 1900s when my unknown English and Welsh cousins were born.  But we don't have a separate English Roots Project that I know of, figuring correctly that those whose ancestors came from England and those who live in England today have some common interests.  So we simply have projects associated with the UK, England, Wales, Scotland.  I think this properly reflects the global intent of WikiTree.  

(Well, I did check, and Google did find this:  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:English_Roots.  What can I say?)

Comments

Thanks, Jack - the project name precedes my arrival at WikiTree, and I do see this inconsistency between project names like German Roots, Latin American Roots, Dutch Roots, and other projects like England, Australia, and Bahamas. I consider the Puerto Rican Roots project to include both ancestors and users who lived in Puerto Rico and members of the Puerto Rican diaspora. Some of these ancestors would be migrants from Spain and the Canary Islands, France, Italy, or other places, and wouldn't actually have Puerto Rican roots themselves, so the project template text does seem a bit out of place there. Anyone sharing the interests of the project is welcome to join.

I actually volunteered as project leader after doing a bit of volunteer research to connect folks like Rosie Perez in preparation for the Global Family Reunion in June 2015. I was one of just a few leaders who can read Spanish records, so I hope I can help keep the project going in spite of not having ancestral ties to the island. It has been fascinating to learn a bit of its history, and I hope to travel there someday soon to see some of the places I've been studying.

---

I don't speak Spanish, but Puerto Rico is an awesome place.  I was there on business some years ago, and figured, hey, they fly the American flag, I should be able to get by on English.  That lasted until I drove out of the airport and saw my first traffic sign, "No Vire a la Izquerda" (if I haven't mis-spelled that!).  At that point I figured out I needed to learn a few words at least.

It strikes me we could make every genealogist on WikiTree multilingual if we posted maybe a free space page with just three words in as many languages as we could muster up:  (1) born (2) married (3) died.  I realized the other day that with no instruction I could read Dutch -- or at least a key word in it for genealogists:  gebornin...

Answer 3

I would love to begin learning more of my roots while helping others on their extended and mutual search! Please sign me up!

Answer 4

Yes, I'd like to join. I'm researching the Mayo's in PR. Haven't been able to get any information on my ancestors past the 1840's. I only know they lived in the Cabo Rojo/Mayaguez area. I recently took both the Ancestry and My Heritage DNA tests. I have trees in those sites as well.

Answer 5

I want to join on behalf of my son Fernandez-468, whose birth mother and father were born in Puerto Rico. I have had his DNA done and he is more Taino' (41%) than West African, Dominican, or Spanish.  So far his DNA has led me to one not too distant relation. I'd love to find more.

Comments

Although the Taino are allegedly exinct, on the 23andMe Reddit there's a couple of Puerto Ricans who tested who were also in the 40-60% range for NA, suggesting they have at least two grandparents who were full-blooded or nearly so. I really wouldn't be surprised if someone with 90%+ pops up one day.

Answer 6

Thank you, I would like to join the Puerto Rican Roots Project. I have family both in Puerto Rico and in the States. My mother is from Cayey.

Answer 7

I'd love to be a part of this. I've only just joined this site, but have been very active on Ancestry.com, where I've traced one line back to Puerto Rico as far as 1501.

Comments

Lana, that is so awesome! I hope you will add some of your ancestry to our tree. Dr. Ana Oquendo Pabón connected Juan Ponce de León to the global tree earlier this year, so if you descend from him be sure to add your line. Let me know if I can help!

Answer 8

I will love to join this group.

Answer 9

Hello, My grandfather was born in Hato Tejas, 1934. He lived in PR with his mother and 7 brothers/sisters. Id love to connect with any family still living in PR. I have traced my family back to the early 1800s in PR. The family name is Santiago and includes Caballero, Rivera, Santana, Colon, Cubano, Rodriguez, Gonzalez and Cesuras..My family move to Queens about 1942 after my great grandfather Dr Jose Manuel Santiago passed away about 1940. Id like to join your "puerto rican roots" project.

Answer 10

Please add me to the Puerto Rican Roots

Comments

I bet this is Jeannette Garcia, right? It looks like you weren't logged in to WikiTree when you posted.

Answer 11

Would love joining the group. Have cousins that have done extensive independent research but have not formally shared their findings on the internet.

They will  be hearing from me.

Comments

Thanks, Ray! After you complete the volunteer process with the Greeters, leave another note here and I'll gladly add you to the project. It will be great to learn about your family's research.

Karen

Answer 12

I would like to join! As it turns out, I'm a quarter Puerto Rican.

Comments

Yay! You're in!

Answer 13

Looking for the rest of my Puerto Rican/ Dominican family. I only have information of my great- grandparents and nothing else.

My mom's last name is Salas from Toa Baja. Timoteo Salas Quintero was my grandfather. My grandmother was Victoria Italia Oliva; she was from the Dominican Republic.

My dad was adopted by the Hau family in Bayamon. Related to the ones in Isabela. Roman Huertas/Luis Hau supposedly had a child with a Julia Vazquez and that was my dad. Mercedes Ortega was Lui's wife.

I hope I can find some answers since most relatives are deceased.

Answer 14

Has  anyone been able to join this project lately?

Comments

Whoops, that’s my fault, Karen! I missed your message notification in my overflowing inbox. One project badge coming right up!

---

In addition to the project badge, may I offer you some great-great-grandparents in apology for my tardiness? See Francisco's profile.

Answer 15

Hi, I just joined and was hoping this project was still open. I have been trying for years to research my Puerto Rican side and I've hit nothing but brick walls.

My family names are Matias, Rodriguez, Gonzelez, Hernandez and possible Dejeues.

My father was born in Las Pierdas, Puerto Rico.

Comments

Danielle, we’d love to try to help! I’m awarding you the project badge and am off to view your growing tree.

Answer 16

Firpo is our ancestry.  We would like to join the PR Project.

Answer 17

I would like to join this group! Most of my family lives in Puerto Rico and me and my Tio are trying to make a family tree with our families! Most of my family is from or still lives in Yauco, Bayamón, Ponce,Lares, and Santurce!

Answer 18

I would Like to join.

Answer 19

Hello, my father's family is originally from Spain and settled in Puerto Rico in the 17th century.  Family names include Arana, Hernandez, Roman, Rodriguez, Morales, Sanabria to name a few.  Please include me in Puerto Rican Roots Project.  Thank you so much!

Answer 20

I would like to join the project. My maternal Great Grandfather was born in Fajardo and came to the US in the late 19th century. I have relatives still living in PR and they have done some fairly involved genealogy research on the PR and US side. It shows Baldorioty deCastro in the family line. I have also been told that a Balthasar deCastro came to the island with Ponce de Leon. I am curious about where the Puerto Rican’s in my family came from - Spain, Portugal, South America ? I have done the Ancestry DNA analysis and it show a small percentage of Spain, Portugal, Native American, and African. I am just learning how to interpret this. Thank you.