South American genealogy research can be intimidating, with each country having its own unique record sets and research strategies, but our experts can help you determine where your ancestors lived and what sources are available to extend your family history.
Immigration & South American Genealogy Research
South America is made up of 14 countries, each of which have their own unique records sets and strategies for research. If you have South American ancestry, the first important step in your genealogy research will be to determine where exactly they lived. Most clients who contact us for help are either trying to find out where their ancestors lived in South America before immigrating to another location (often the United States) so they can extend their lines in that country, or where their ancestors lived in Europe prior to arriving in South America.
Accessing Records for South American Family History Research
In either of these cases, it is important to start with the more recent family members and collect all available records that were created during their lives, looking for clues that will tell you where they originated. These records might include vital records (births, marriages, deaths), census records, military records, church records, probate records, immigration records, and a variety of other things. If the records about your direct-line ancestor don’t provide the information you’re looking for, you’ll need to expand your search to include your ancestor’s siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, etc. until you find a specific place where your ancestors originated.
Once you know the specific country and city/town your ancestors came from, there are various resources available to determine what records exist for that location and where those records are kept. If the records are not available online or at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, onsite research might be needed.
Our Team of Professional Genealogists Can Help
The professionals on our team have experience with a wide variety of South American genealogy research. Whether you need help determining where your ancestors came from in South America, extending your South American lines, or learning where your ancestors lived before arriving in South America, our experts and onsite agents can help.