Historical Overview

Founded on January 29, 1736, Guayama was carved from the territory of Coamo after settlers petitioned for a local parish to avoid the dangerous journey north for religious services. Known as the Ciudad de los Brujos (City of the Witches), it became a vital hub for southeastern Puerto Rican genealogy, with its economy rooted in the coastal sugar industry and the mountainous tobacco and coffee regions. As a pueblo matriz, Guayama's expansive jurisdiction later gave rise to Patillas (1811) and Arroyo (1855). The main parish, San Antonio de Padua, holds systematic records from 1813 with some earlier fragments from the mid-1700s; researchers tracing ancestors before 1750 should consult the records of San Blas de Illescas in Coamo.

Coat of Arms

The shield features blue and silver checks representing the orderly street layout of the urban zone, two mill towers symbolizing the historical dominance of the sugar industry, and laurel trees representing the famous laurel trees of the central Plaza de Recreo Cristóbal Colón. A five-towered mural crown atop the shield signifies Guayama's official status as a city.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Guayama has 10 barrios:

• Algarrobo
• Caimital
• Carite
• Carmen
• Guamaní
• Guayama barrio-pueblo
• Jobos
• Machete
• Palmas
• Pozo Hondo

Daughter Municipalities

The following municipalities separated from Guayama. Residents recorded events before their founding year in Guayama's parish:

• Patillas (founded 1811) — San Benito Abad
• Arroyo (founded 1855) — Nuestra Señora del Carmen

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

• Arroyo — Nuestra Señora del Carmen
• Cayey — Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
• Patillas — San Benito Abad
• Salinas — Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate

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.

Guayama (2026)

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

Genealogy Toolkit

Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: San Antonio de Padua

Records from 1813

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Digital Archives

• FamilySearch: Guayama Civil and parish records
• FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide

Further Reading

• U.S. Census Bureau: Guayama Municipio Profile — U.S. Census Bureau Census Data Authoritative 2020 Census profile for Guayama, including official barrio list, population data, and geographic boundary information.
• FamilySearch Catalog: Puerto Rico, Guayama, Church Records (San Antonio de Padua) Archive Catalog FamilySearch catalog entry for digitized parish records from Guayama (catalog ID 193378), covering baptisms, marriages, and burials from San Antonio de Padua. Systematic registers run 1813–1931, with some earlier fragments from the mid-1700s.
• Notas para su Historia: Guayama — Mario A. Rodríguez León, O.P. Historical Monograph Essential historical text by Fr. Mario A. Rodríguez León covering early families, founding conditions, and the social development of Guayama from its 1736 establishment onward.
• Cementerio Municipal de Guayama — Find A Grave Cemetery Index Index for the primary municipal cemetery of Guayama. Useful for verifying death dates and burial information that may be absent from civil or church records.