Cuba Quick Start Guide

Cuba Quick Start Guide

Unfortunately for those with ancestors from Cuba, FamilySearch does not have any microfilmed or digitized records for Cuba.

Cuba: Ancestor's birth, marriage, or death location known OR unknown
FamilySearch Catalog: The few records that FamilySearch has for CUba are not online. Be sure to check the catalog before giving up on finding records. There are some books of extracted parish records and/or indexes for he cities of Camaguey, Havana, Remedios, Sancti Spiritus, Santa Clara, Guamutas, Matanzas, Santiageo de Cuba, and Santa Clara.

Research Strategies
The best place to begin all genealogical investigation is with the older family members and relatives. They are usually able to provide names, datres, and family stories. Try to find relatives (even newly-met or little known relatives) living in Cuba and ask for more information. You will need to be patient because the mail system in Cuba has long delays. The Cuban Civil Registration Office will not reply to requests for documents such as births, marriage, or death certificates coming from outside Cuba. You can request inforamtion from the Catholic Church parishes in Cuba regarding your own family relatives because correspondence with the Catholic Church is not prohibited but be aware that any reply usually takes months.

The most valuable printed references on Cuban genealogy are the works of the Cuban genealogist, Francisco Xavier de Santa Cruz y Mallen. A nine volume set entitled,, describes in detail the genealogy of 841 Cuban family names (FHL INTL Book 972.91 D2s). Also, is a four volume set by Rafael Nieto cortadellas (FHL INTL Book 972.91 D2n), and  by Peter e. Carr (FHL INTL Book 972.91 D23c) are excellent sources of genealogical information.

Finding a Locality
For help locating a place in CUba, you may want to try one of the following resources:


 * Google
 * Don Jacobo de la Pezuela, is an online geographic dictionary called 1865 Diccionario Geográfico, Estadístico, Hitórico De la Isla de Cuba.
 * compiled by Mayra F. Sánchez-Johnson FHL INTL Refereence 972.91 E5s).
 * . Washington, DC: U.S. Office of Geography, 1963 (FHL INTL Book 972.91 E5u, microfilm 874452 Item 2)
 * by Fernando de Castro y de Cárdenas (FHL INTL Bopok 972.91 D2c).
 * (FHL INTL Book 972.91 D2a).

Online Resources
The following websites are related to Cuban genealogy, history and culture:


 * CubanGenWeb
 * Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami
 * Cuban Heritage Collection University of Miami Library

For other online resources please review the Wiki article Hispanic Genealogy Resources Online.