Your search for your family history in South America is likely to start with civil and church records, the most popular archives for the region. Online databases, like MyHeritage, give you access to vital records from different countries across South America. Archive access, and the type of documents available, will vary between countries as most didn’t conduct a formal census until over a century after the United States.
Researching your family tree in South America can be challenging, especially with the convention of double surnames in the region. Historical context also matters, including migration patterns and the role of the church as the main archive for records pre-independence.
As archives are increasingly digitized, MyHeritage is the ideal starting point for your genealogical search. Our South American archives give you access to historical records, civil registrations, and surname information for countries throughout the continent. While it can be challenging, searching for your family in South American archives is a rewarding experience that helps you connect to your heritage.
Starting Your South American Genealogical Search
Be prepared to encounter challenges. In many countries, such as Brazil, enslaved people were not given official records and documents from the era of Spanish and Portuguese colonial rule can be difficult to access.
Start with what you know. Begin building your family tree with known names, dates, and locations by interviewing older family members. Oral history is a great way to understand the different naming conventions within South American families, including religious naming and double surnames. If your family has immigrated from South America, your oral history may provide clues for countries of interest.
Types of Genealogical Records in South America
The types of genealogical records you’ll be able to access from South American archives will vary by the country of origin. Chile conducted the first formal census in South America in 1853, with Brazil following in 1872, before the final abolition of slavery.
If you’re searching for ancestors before these dates, you’ll likely need to consult colonial censuses, like the ‘Revillagigedo Census’ decreed by King Carlos III of Spain in 1776.
Other genealogical records that you can consult include:
- Civil records: Birth, marriage, and death certificates held by civil registry offices.
- Church records: The influence of the Catholic Church in South America means that church records for catholic baptisms, marriages, and burials can fill the gap where civil records do not exist.
- Immigration records: If your ancestors immigrated to South America, explore naturalization documents, port arrival logs, and ship manifests for major ports, including Argentina and Brazil.
- Land records: Colonial and post-independence land grants and deeds can provide important contextual family information.
- Newspapers: Local newspaper archives can provide access to marriage and birth announcements, death notices, and relevant news stories.
Need extra help finding official documents? Watch our webinar on Latin American genealogical resources with a country-by-country breakdown on how to access government records and other information online.
How to Access South American Archives
MyHeritage gives you access to millions of documents from archives across South America, including vital and census records. Our online database is always growing with new historical record collections added monthly. Alongside the MyHeritage database, you can access documents from other digital and in-person archives.
Most major South American countries have their own National Archive, including Colombia, Peru, and Argentina. Some of these, such as the National Archive of Brazil, offer remote access and the ability to request documents if available virtually.
Churches can also prove useful with documents held in parish offices and diocesan archives. Be aware that most of these won’t be digitized, but local historical organizations may be able to help you access them remotely. The same is true for civil registry offices. However, some South American countries offer access to historical documents through online portals.
Genealogical Research Tips for South American Archives
South American archives pose unique challenges, especially if your family lived in border regions and may have migrated back and forth between countries. It’s easiest to work on the branches of your family tree by tracing one generation at a time, going backwards from your last known family member.
Don’t forget to consider the wider context, including political and social events happening when your family lived in South America. Cross-reference documents wherever possible, as name variations and translation changes make it easy to overlook family members when searching different archives.
Explore Your Family History in South America with MyHeritage
Exploring your South American heritage can be complicated, requiring a blend of oral history and archival documentation, some of which might not yet be digitized. Discovering the branches of your family tree in South America can help preserve your history for the next generation.
Start your search by signing up for a free trial of MyHeritage today to discover the branches of your family tree and read our guide on how to find your heritage using your last name in 5 steps.
The post How to Search For Your Family in South American Archives appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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