Historical Overview

San Lorenzo, founded in 1737 as the settlement of San Miguel de Hato Grande, became an independent municipality in 1811 after separating from Caguas. Located in the eastern interior of Puerto Rico where the Cordillera Central foothills meet the coastal lowlands, the town was renamed San Lorenzo in honor of its patron saint, San Lorenzo Mártir. The primary Catholic parish, Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, holds records beginning in 1811, and the municipality's civil registry dates from 1885. San Lorenzo's 11 barrios, including Cerro Gordo, Cayaguas, and Jagual, spread across rugged terrain that once supported coffee and tobacco farming.

Coat of Arms

The San Lorenzo coat of arms features a red shield with a grill (parrilla) in the upper section, referencing the patron Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo Mártir), who was martyred on a gridiron. The lower section depicts a mountain evoking the local landscape. The shield is bordered in gold with eight red crosses emphasizing Catholic identity. A three-towered mural crown tops the shield marking municipal status. The red and gold colors are linked to the Muñoz family lineage of founder Valeriano Muñoz de Oneca.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. San Lorenzo has 11 barrios:

Cayaguas
Cerro Gordo
Espino
Florida
Hato
Jagual
Pueblo
Quebrada
Quebrada Arenas
Quebrada Honda
Quemados

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.

San Lorenzo (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: Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes

Records from 1811

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: San Lorenzo Civil and parish records
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide