Conducting South American Genealogy Research

Do you have ancestors from South America? If so, there are many records available online to help you.

In 1494, Portugal and Spain signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, splitting all land outside Europe (North and South America) between the two countries. The indigenous peoples in various South American countries were forced to work on plantations and in mines. The independence of South America came with Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín in the early 1800s. Most South American countries today are presidential republics (except Suriname, French Guiana, and the Falkland Islands).

If you are researching your South American ancestors, no central location exists for records. Like in many countries, you need to find the town your ancestor is from. To do this, research records in the country where your ancestor settled.

Once you find a location, there are two main types of records to look for in the country your ancestor is from civil and church records. Other records may be available depending on the country, and record dates will vary for each country.

One of the most complete sources of information is Catholic Church records, as Spain sought to convert its subjects to Christianity. It is estimated that 90% of South Americans are Christian, and 82% of those are Roman Catholic. Catholic records typically include baptisms, marriages, and deaths.

The records may be in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Latin, or English depending on the country. (FamilySearch has genealogy word lists to help you extract data.) Some countries will have other denominational records as well. Check for variant name spellings and an index for each volume if not indexed online. Search nearby parishes if you can’t find your ancestors where you think they should be.

Search civil registration records for births, marriages, and deaths, FamilySearch has many of these records. You can also find records for various South American countries on Ancestry, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage.

Sheri V.
Midwest Genealogy Center