San José, Petén, Guatemala Genealogy

Guide to Municipality of San José ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, church records, parish registers, and civil registration.

History

 * The inhabitants of San José emerged from the Maya group that emigrated from Chichen Itza to escape inter-tribal wars during the 12th and 15th centuries. The ethnic group of the Itzáes descended from King Canek, the last Cacique Itzá who led the resistance against the Spanish conquest.
 * After the Independence of Centromaérica, Petén was established as a dependent district of the department of Verapaz.
 * During the government of General Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes in 1962, the municipality of Melchor de Mencos was created, and San José lost the areas of Tikal, Uaxactún and El Remate, among others, which were annexed to the municipality of Flores, which caused problems between the inhabitants of both municipalities.
 * The municipality of San José has a population of approximately 4,500 people

Civil Registration

 * 1877-1935 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1877-1980 Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-1980 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)

Parish Records

 * 1581-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Census Records

 * There are no records for only the municipality of San José. See the records of neighboring municipalities.

Cemeteries

 * Cementerio General de San José

Localities

 * Jobompiche