Portuguese Origins in the United States: A Guide to Local History and Genealogy Sources
Compiled by subject specialists at the Library of Congress, this guide provides print and online resources for researching the genealogy of Portuguese families in the U.S., along with key national, state and local histories.
Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help.
Authors:
Henry Widener, Reference Specialist, Hispanic Reading Room
Sheree Budge, Reference Specialist, Local History and Genealogy
Created: August 24, 2022
Last Updated: November 13, 2024
Introduction
The Portuguese were among the very first European explorers to the Americas, and some Americans claim descent from the parties of the first conquistadors. Subsequent waves of immigration included people from the Azores, the Madeiras, the Cape Verde Islands, continental Portugal and China.
We have listed catalogs and archives outside the Library of Congress that have local histories, censuses, and land records. Look for various genealogy periodicals and publications, lists, useful websites and online databases, as well as services subscribed to by the Library.
About Local History & Genealogy Reference Services
The Library of Congress has one of the world's premier collections of U.S. and foreign genealogical and local historical publications, numbering more than 50,000 compiled family histories and over 100,000 U.S. local histories. The Library's genealogy collection began as early as 1815 with the purchase of Thomas Jefferson's library.
Submit a question through our Ask a Librarian service, call us at (202) 707-3399, or visit us in person in Room LJ-100 (Main Reading Room) of the Thomas Jefferson building in Washington, D.C. Access online research tools and strategies by exploring the research guides created by our subject specialists.