Historical Overview

Culebra is a small island municipality located northeast of Puerto Rico's main island, founded on October 27, 1880, by Cayetano Escudero as the settlement of San Ildefonso de la Culebra. Because of its late parish formation and geographic isolation, surviving Catholic records begin around 1891; researchers should also search Vieques and Fajardo records for earlier family events. Civil registration from 1885 supplements parish records and is the primary source for vital events after that date.

Coat of Arms

Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The coat of arms features a green field tierced in three, with a cross and an episcopal crozier representing Bishop San Ildefonso, after whom the original settlement San Ildefonso de la Culebra was named. A crowned serpent ondoyant in pale symbolizes the island's name (Culebra means snake), and a mailed arm taken from the Escudero family crest honors Cayetano Escudero, the town's founder. The laurel cross commemorates the civic campaign to end U.S. Navy use of the island, while a naval coronet and two masts above the shield emphasize the municipality's maritime and insular identity.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Culebra has 6 barrios:

• Culebra barrio-pueblo
• Flamenco
• Fraile
• Playa Sardinas I
• Playa Sardinas II
• San Isidro

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

• Ceiba — San Antonio de Padua
• Fajardo — Santiago Apóstol
• Vieques — Inmaculada Concepción

Historical Maps

Historical maps help identify barrios, boundaries, and communities as they existed in the past. Maps from the 18th and 19th centuries are preferred.

Culebra (2026)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, TIGER/Line Shapefiles

Genealogy Toolkit

FamilySearch account required. The record links below open digitized images on FamilySearch. You must be logged in to a free FamilySearch account to view the records. Create a free account or sign in before clicking any link.

Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: Nuestra Señora del Carmen

Records from 1891

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Diocesan Archive

Diocese: Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao

For sacramental records not available digitally, contact the diocesan archive directly.

Diocese Website

Digital Archives

• FamilySearch: Culebra Civil and parish records
• Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645–2021 Digitized Records Islandwide Catholic church-record collection including baptisms, marriages, burials, and confirmations. Includes Culebra parish records (Nuestra Señora del Carmen) beginning circa 1891.
• Puerto Rico Civil Registration, 1885–2001 Digitized Records Civil registration births, marriages, and deaths for all Puerto Rico municipalities including Culebra, beginning 1885.
• Cementerio Municipal de Culebra — Find a Grave Cemetery Index Index for the main municipal cemetery of Culebra. Useful for verifying death dates and burial information.
• FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide

Further Reading

• U.S. Census Bureau: Culebra Municipio Profile — U.S. Census Bureau Census Data Authoritative 2020 Census profile for Culebra, including official barrio list, population data, and geographic boundary information.
• Culebra, Puerto Rico Genealogy — FamilySearch Wiki contributors Research Guide FamilySearch research guide for Culebra with historical background, civil registration guidance, and genealogy pointers.
• Culebra, Puerto Rico Church Index 1896–1976 — Hijos de Coamo Web Resource Detailed secondary index for Culebra church records with coverage notes and book details. Useful for locating specific baptism, marriage, and burial entries.