|
| |
Genealogical Research in Mexico
¡Bienvenidos! So you’re ready to trace your Mexican roots? Mexico is a country
rich in culture and history, and tracing your family tree will no doubt be an
exciting adventure! Mexico is a great place in which to conduct genealogical
research due to the many records that are available. However, there are some
challenges that can sometimes make research difficult.
At ProGenealogists, we have experts who are familiar with all aspects of
Mexican research. We have assisted many of our clients in tracing their ancestry
in Mexico and in other Latin American countries. Our close proximity to the
world renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City makes it easy for us to
have access to many of the records we need to be successful in Mexican
genealogy.
This page will help you in becoming more familiar with the different record
sources that are key in Mexican research, so feel free to explore and learn more
about genealogical research in Mexico!
First Steps
In order to begin tracing your roots in Mexico, it is vital that you have an
exact place since most records were kept on a local level. For ecclesiastical
records, the common level of jurisdiction is the parish, while civil
jurisdiction is found on the municipio level. If your ancestors immigrated to
the United States or another country, then you will first need to begin looking
in the records of that country. For immigrants to the U.S., here are some
helpful tips that can be of assistance to you in finding the ancestor’s exact
place of origin:
Family Records
- Communicate with other relatives who may remember details about your family.
- Search for family documents such as birth, marriage, death or church
christening and confirmation certificates.
Vital Records
- Death and marriage records from the U.S. may list an exact place of birth for
an immigrant.
- Birth records of an immigrant’s children may also provide this information.
Naturalization Papers
- Typically, U.S. Naturalization records after 1890 list an immigrant’s exact
place of birth.
Mexican Border Crossing Records
- These records are indexed on Ancestry.com. While many immigrants from Mexico
are not recorded, and the records are in poor condition, this source is still a very good resource to check. The index will
supply an immigrant’s last place of residence, which was often their place of
birth as well.
- Explore
Mexico Border Crossings 1903-1957 at Ancestry.com (fee required).
Next Steps
After you have identified an exact place of origin and have collected other
details about the family such as birth, death and marriage details, then you’re
ready to begin searching in original records! The following record sources are
not the only records that are used in Mexican research, but they are the most
common.
| |
|
