Historical Overview

Orocovis, originally known as Barros, was founded in 1825 in the mountainous heart of Puerto Rico, carved from the territories of Barranquitas and Coamo. Renamed Orocovis in 1928 after the Taíno cacique Orocobix, the municipality spans 16 barrios across the island's central cordillera. Genealogical research here draws on Catholic parish records from San Juan Bautista de Barros and civil registration beginning in 1885, with additional leads found in the records of neighboring towns Barranquitas, Coamo, Corozal, Morovis, and Villalba.

Coat of Arms

Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The coat of arms features an oval shield shaped like the letter O, referencing the town name. A Taíno chief figure represents Orocobix, the cacique for whom the municipality was renamed in 1928, honoring its indigenous heritage. A sun or star with seventeen rays symbolizes the 17 barrios of the municipality. A plantain plant represents the agricultural traditions of the region. The crown above the shield signals municipal status; the colors and metals symbolize nature, sincerity, nobility, security, and spiritual wealth.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Orocovis has 16 barrios:

Ala de Piedra
Barros
Bauta Abajo
Bauta Arriba
Bermejales
Botijas
Cacaos
Collores
Damián Arriba
Mata de Caña
Orocovis
Pellejas
Pueblo
Sabana
Saltos
Unibón

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

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.

Orocovis (2026)

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

Genealogy Toolkit

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Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: San Juan Bautista de Barros

Records from 1825

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Diocesan Archive

Diocese: Diocese of Arecibo

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

Diocese Website

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: Orocovis 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 Orocovis parish records from San Juan Bautista de Barros.
Puerto Rico Civil Registration, 1885–2001 Digitized Records Civil registration births, marriages, and deaths for all Puerto Rico municipalities including Orocovis, beginning 1885.
Cementerio Municipal Orocovis — Find a Grave Cemetery Index Index for the main municipal cemetery of Orocovis. Useful for verifying death dates and burial information.
Cementerio Nuevo de Orocovis — Find a Grave Cemetery Index Index for the newer municipal cemetery of Orocovis. Useful for verifying death dates and burial information for more recent records.
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide