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    RESEARCH GUIDE

    Dec 22, 2020 5 minutes
    by LAURA M. CRUZ

    PUERTO RICO, ALSO KNOWN as The Isle of Enchantment, is a melting pot of cultures. In Pre-Columbian times, the island was inhabited by the Taíno people. After the island became a Spanish colony in 1493, Europeans arrived and imported slaves from the western coasts of Africa. Then the island came under US ownership in 1898, beginning a new, complex relationship.

    Researching Puerto Rican ancestry will challenge your language skills and may present you with a brick wall or two. The island’s long and multifaceted history provides an invaluable lens through which you can understand Puerto Rican ancestry. This research guide will give you historical context and clues that will help you make the most out of your search.

    ENCHANTING PEOPLE

    The Taíno, an indigenous people of the Caribbean, inhabited Puerto Rico since as early as the seventh century. The Taíno name for Puerto

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