Southwest USA Genealogy & History

Searches on the internet for Mexican Genealogy records can be frustrating and fruitless. Often some searches are just for Mexican Male Names and this is often to jump start some ideas for genealogy searching.

Here are some Mexican Male Names:

Garcia

Lazono

Guerra

Deaz

Camacho

Salinas

Cantu

Martinez

Agular

Gonzalez

Alevar

Arredondo

Garza

Mendez

Treviño

Sanchez

Borrego

Enriquez

Perez

Herrera

Also, I did find a tiny bit of information that might be helpful: 

Mexican Male Names Census for Palofox, Baja, Mexico 1816. This town was located about 30 miles north of Loredo, Mexico.

You may find some Common Mexican Male Name here.

The Family History Center has complied
from the Spanish American Mission. This includes information gathered by the Mission including church members that lived in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas and prior to 1936… Old Mexico.

Microfilm of these original records resides in the LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City. You will need to find a local LDS stake center (main church in your area) and ask for the genealogy library. They will be able to help you with locating records of your ancestors.

These records are stored in what is called the Patron section of the archives.

This link will take you to the page with some names listed. Mexican Genealogy Records 

Remember that when starting your search for your Mexican heritage… that the names in countries outside of the USA are listed differently. Mothers and fathers names are often mixed into a child's name… sometimes a y will be in between names.

  photo credit: matthew.hickey

These are all things you must research within your family first. Find out everything you can about possible maiden names and sir names before you head out to do any digging. Your going to find a lot of similar names in the records… and you will need ways to narrow down your searches.

FamilySearch.org also has an online data base that is free and may help you find vital records of your Mexican Ancestors.  Most civil records only date back to the 1950's in Mexico… to go back any further you will have to contact the local parish or town that your ancestors records may be. This is tedious… so get as many facts from relatives as you can.  Write every thing down… don't chance a failing memory.

Immigration records may be your best source of vital information. It could lead you to one ancestors place of birth which can break down brick walls quickly.

Many Immigration and Naturalization records are available online. Death records and Obituaries can be found through public records. It's very inexpensive to set up an account and have others search for you in places that you can't get to.

You may find your Mexican Genealogy Records here.

Research your Mexican and New Mexico ancestors online. Surname listing of Naturalization Records online.

The NARA's Rocky Mountain Region (Denver), Denver, CO has posted records of Naturalization requests for thousands of names. This could be a goldmine for those of you searching for ancestors that you don't know when they came to live in the U.S.

New Mexico surname list for Naturalization Records

For example:

The research on the surname Alejandro finds 2 names -

• Petition for Naturalization of Francisco Jr. Alejandro, 09/12/1938. This petition for naturalization indicates Mexico as the petitioner's place of origin. The petition was granted by the court in Albuquerque.

• Petition for Naturalization of Alejandro Felipe Jimenez, 11/16/1953. This petition for naturalization indicates Mexico as the petitioner's place of origin. The petition was granted by the court in Albuquerque.

You can then write for actual copies of the Naturalization Petition or other records from this repository.

The Rocky Mountain Region Repository for NARA holds records for these states. 

• Colorado
• Montana
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Wyoming
• and other states

Website For Rocky Mountain Region Archives