I am looking for the Silva's, Rodriguez, Arce who lived in Puerto Rico in the 1800's. However, I can

Barb-1

before 1880's. David Silva Rodriguez, born 1912, father Jose Lino Arce, 1888 from Cabo Rojo, P.R. I cannot find anything on the Silva or Arce families before that time. If you can help, I would greatly appreciate it as it cannot go back any further on my ancestors. Thank you. Stay safe.

Ellen Fernandez-Sacco

Barb-1,

There are many many people with these surnames, and also not all records are accessible or have survived the centuries. That doesn't mean you can't find more, but it will take time. Also others have done research so check out trees on FS & Ancestry to gauge how much is out there, then confirm what you find by looking at the records yourself.

 

Names can be inherited, or gained by association- through enslavement or through taking on the surname of the person who owned the land a family is living on. There is also a LOT of endogamy (cousin marriages). One cannot assume it's all Spanish or Portuguese in origin.

 

David Silva Rodriguez's birth certificate is here: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-TSXP-N?i=834&cc=1682798&personaUrl=/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJD-4B2S

son of Jose Lino Silva Arce + Carmen Rodriguez

AP: Pedro Silva + Francisca Arce

AM: Dolores Rodriguez + Emancipación Zapata

 

Pedro Silva Diaz (1832-1916)

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJ6-3B2G

son of Felipe Silva and Encarnacion Diaz "naturales de Rincon"

 

There is often very little information on origins, particularly if the family has been on the island a long time, which is why many turn to DNA to learn more. There are volumes by Estela Cifre de Loubriel on emigres to PR, divided by region.

One line comes out of Arecibo, however you would have to do more research to tell if your line connects.

One family I am connected to is:

Jose Pablo Silva Mendoza 22 Nov 1800 b. Olivencia, Port Alegre Portugal + Juana Reyes Reyes of Arecibo, bca. 1815. At least two children were born in Camuy, with ties to the Cordero line. I honestly can't say whether there's a connection to Cabo Rojo or Rincon from them. Silva may also be a Sephardic surname.

 

There's a much older Fernandez de Silva line in San Juan, ca early 1700s, however one has to research to see if the compound name broke up to become Fernandez or Silva. You may find the same for Rodriguez lines as well.

 

Ellen

 

 

 

 

LegacyUser

Thank you so very much for your time & info. I will continue to try & find out where they originally came from before P.R.

Again, thank you.

Ellen Fernandez-Sacco

You're so welcome! Good luck, ask again if you get stuck.

LegacyUser

I am really stuck on this family. I know Carmen Rodriguez Zapata's relatives were from Mexico, but I do not know where to start if the Silva & Arce families came from there also. I am really frustrated. But thank you anyway.

Ellen Fernandez-Sacco

The Zapata side has been well researched- have you followed the tree on FamilySearch?

You can follow back from Carmen and go back to a Alferez Marcos Zapata Covarrubias of Mexico City, 1639-1699

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LW6J-M2P

 • GM4C-X1L

There are other resources you can check, but it takes work, especially since Silva and Arce and Rodriguez are older names tied to military families on the island.

Also Mexico would not be an endpoint necessarily, many military were moved around. There's reference books such as Hojas de Servicio de las Americas that list many officers in different locations in the empire.

LegacyUser

Hi: Thank you for your response. I have all the Zapata info, I just put in her name as a wife as info & connection with the Silva & Arce families.