Puerto Ricans who were born and raised in Puerto Rico carry the surnames of both of their parents, which is common in most Spanish speaking nations. If I were born in Puerto Rico, I would also endow my mother’s maiden name of Gómez which would follow my father’s name of Vélez. My mother’s side ofContinue reading “Tomás Gómez – My Third Great-Grandfather”
Category Archives: Mayaguez
The Ruiz Family of Mayaguez and Las Marias, Puerto Rico
My maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Ruiz and her family came from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. As of the date of this post, I have been able to trace the Ruiz Family line back to about 1822. My grandmother, Carmen Maria Ruiz y Santiago de Gomez, who gave birth to 17 children and was known mostContinue reading “The Ruiz Family of Mayaguez and Las Marias, Puerto Rico”
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
My mother’s side of the family is from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The family names from Mayagüez are Gómez, Soler, Ruíz, and Santiago. Mayagüez, the largest city on the western side of the island, was founded in 1760. Most of the town’s settlers, including its founders, came originally from the Canary Islands. Mayagüez, whose population inContinue reading “Mayagüez, Puerto Rico”
Puerto RiKin 