Site ContentsThe Conquistadors - A list of almost 2000 individuals that served the King with
Cortes and stayed in Mexico (with some notable exceptions).
The conquest of the Mexico lasted from 1519 to 1521. 5 pages.
Coats of Arms - Conquest of Mexico - A list of 145 of the individuals that
received coats' of arms for their part in the conquest of Mexico from 1525 to 1589.
1 page
The Conquistadors of the Yucatan - A list of 160 of the individuals that served
the King with Francisco de Montejo from 1526 to 1546. 1 page
The Conquistadors of Nueva Galicia - A list of 280 of the individuals that
served the King with Nuno de Guzman in 1530. Many went on to settle the
area and had links to the earlier Conquistadors. 1 page
Early Settlers of Nueva Galicia - 137 settlers arriving after the conquest of
the area. Some had links to the earlier Conquistadors. 2 pages
The Coronado Expedition - A list of 322 settlers that served with the Captain
Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. The expedition set out for New Mexico
and Arizona but made it as far north as Kansas from 1540 to 1542.
1 page
The Luna Expedition - A list of the 251 settlers that served with the Captain
Tristán de Luna y Arellano. The expedition set out to settle Florida in 1559-
1564. 1 page
The Onate Expedition - A list of the 336 settlers that served with the Captain
General Juan de Onate. The expedition set out to settle New Mexico in 1598-
1600. 1 page
New Spain - 433 surnames of the early settlers making their way north
into Northeastern Mexico. Many descendants of the early Conquistadors.
Their date of first mention in public records for the area is listed in
most cases. 8 pages
1700-1726 - New wave of settlers to Northeastern Mexico. Some details are
given on 81 surnames. 2 pages
California 1769-1800 - A list of names of over 1,700 of the earliest
recorded male settlers of Alta California. 1 page
Surname Research - Here are Hispanic resources traceable to 320
surnames found in the American Southwest or Mexico. 3 pages
The Genealogy of Mexico DNA Surname Project - Find relatives using
DNA technology. With DNA it is possible to find out if you share a common
male ancestor within 7 generations at a probability of 50% or 23
generations (around the time of the Conquest) at a 90% probability. This
project is open to anyone with ancestors in Mexico along their father's
father's .... line. 1 page
Genealogy of Mexico Mitochondrial DNA Page.Genealogy of Mexico Family Finder DNA Page.(old data) See how we are
all related to each other using autosomal DNA.
Click here for more information Family FinderPersonal Genealogy - Personal family surnames of Felix, Loera, Santoscoy,
Moran, Vejar and Castro are discussed or mentioned. Additional links of
cousins doing research on these names are provided as well as other links.
1 page
Photo Gallery - Old family photos. 1 page
Introduction
Since the dawn of man people have always traveled in groups, with those
founders of the group having the most descendants within the group.
The population of Mexico has seen wide historical changes. At the
time of the conquest in the early 1500's the population was estimated
to be 20 million. By 1600 due to disease and war effecting the Native
American population of Mexico, the population dwindled to 1 million. In
the mean time, prior to 1620 or so, it is estimated that half the male
population of Iberia came to settle the Americas. It is this founder
population that this website will focus on, as there is genealogical
and scientific information allowing us to link back to them.
As late as 1910 the population of Mexico was still only 15 million after
almost 400 years. With the population now estimated at over 125 million.
This accounts for an amazing degree of inter-relationships considering
there was relatively little immigration to Mexico during this time.
This website is organized for the most part, by founder groups. First
the Conquistadors of Mexico. Next, a list of those that distinguished
themselves during the Conquest. Next, a list of the earliest settlers
of the Yucatan. Followed by a list of the earliest settlers of Nueva
Galicia (parts of Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Jalisco and Zacatecas).
Followed further by a list of those exploring the furthest reaches of
the north of New Spain (Coronado Expedition). Followed by a list of
those attempting to colonize Florida from Mexico (Luna expedition). Next
a list of the earliest colonizers of New Mexico (Onate expedition).
Next is a list of the earliest recorded surnames of Northeastern New
Spain (Mexico). Followed by a list of subsequent surnames found in
Northeastern New Spain. California is then examined with a list of the
surnames of its earliest recorded male settlers. Followed by a library
of references pertaining to research of the most common surnames of
Mexico. This is followed by new scientific research using DNA linking
ourselves to those at the time of the conquest. Finally there are links
used in my own research and my family photo page.
This website is provided as a gateway to our ancestrial past and is
organized to allow us to discover them from the conquest forward.
Gary Felix
* Source of some of the above statistical information. "Mexico - population"
Updates
Online 01/20/98 Counter set to zero (over a 1.25 million visitors before
counter version was disabled)
Update 02/25/01 Added new page of the names of the earliest recorded
settlers of California.
Update 04/08/01 Added "The Last Will and Testament of Hernando Cortes"
This link can be found on this page under Cortes
Update 04/21/03 Finished adding more Cortes Conquistadors names.
Added 1100 newly discovered Cortes Conquistadors.
Update 04/21/03 Added New links on Personal Genealogy page on
new ways to research your ancestry through DNA.
Update 05/20/03 Added many more Biographies of Cortes' Conquistadors
Update 09/07/03 Added DNA Surname Project page
Update 01/02/04 Added Coats of Arms page
Update 01/01/11 Added Mitochondrial and Family Finder pages
Bibliography
Thorough Amazon you can support the research on this site by purchasing some of the
following books, using the book cover link above the description. A safe, easy and convenient
way to buy books or anything else.
by Carl Laurence Duaine.
This book brings to life the story of our ancestors from Northeastern
Mexico. The Author identifies the founders and this is backed up by
our study on Y-DNA. This book was the inspiration for this website.
The author spent over 20 years tracing his mothers side of the family
to some in a group of over 150 families of Iberian decent that
settled Mexico from the time of Cortes. Much of the book documents
the lives and descendants of these people. Includes land grant and
coat of arms information. Recommended for your genealogical library.
346 8 1/2 X 11 pages.
Many details relating to the conquest are from the first hand
account in the book "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico 1517-1521"
by the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo (translated to english).
The Author viewed the writings of others who were not there and
wanted to set the record straight. 468 pages
by Robert Himmerich Y Valencia. Excellent source of genealogical and
historical information on the early settlers and much more information
on the conquistadors. Recommended for your genealogical library.
506 settlers are profiled. 304 pgs.
by Hugh Tomas. A comprehensive study and an excellent book. See the
online reviews posted on amazon.com. 602 pages.
by Patricia de Fuentes. Accounts by Juan Diaz, Andres de Tapia, Cortes,
Francisco de Aguilar, Pedro de Alvarado, Diego del Pilar and "the
Anonymous Conquistador". All give you a feeling of what it must have been
like during the conquest as well as information on the cultures and life
in those days. 208 pages.
FUNDADORES DE NUEVA GALICIA, GUADALAJARA, TOMO I by Guillermo
Garmendia Leal. Excellent source of information on the early settlers
of Nueva Galicia. Covers the years 1529 to 1650. Recommended for your
genealogical library. Spanish text. 165 pages.
Sumaria Relacion De Las Cosas De La Nueva Espana
by Baltasar Dorantes de Carranza. Excellent source of genealogical
information on the Conquistadors. Recommended for your genealogical
library. Spanish text. 419 pages.
"Relacion Secreta de Conquistadores informes del archivo personal del Emperador
Carlos I" by Mariano Gonzalez-Leal.
"Indice Geobiografico de Cuarenta Mil Pobladores Espanoles de America en El
Siglo XVI" Tomo I 1493-1519 and Tomo II 1520-1539 by Peter Boyd Bowman.
List and some details of the first conquistadors to the New World.
"Don Juan de Onate, Colonizer of New Mexico 1595-1628"
by George P. Hammond And Agapito Rey (also available through your libraries book
exchange program). Currently out of print.
New Mexico's First ColonistsNew Mexico's first colonists: The 1597-1600 enlistments for New Mexico under Juan de Oñate
by David H. Snow. A compilation of what is known genealogically, of these
early settlers. 131 pages.
Diccionario Heraldico, Apellidos y Nombres Propios by Lander Munoz
Excellent source of Heraldry information with coat of arms information on those
coming to the Americas and family histories. Recommended for your
genealogical library. Spanish text. 417 pages.
A very interesting book with an excellent Epilog.
Very easy reading.
Books on others researching their culture and personal history
A best seller by Victor Villasenor. Follow the history of the authors family for several
generations. This history could easily be our own. This bestselling
non fiction work easily reads like a novel. See the reviews on
Amazon.com by following the link above.
by John Phillip Santos. The Author John Santos (de los Santos) is a Rhodes
Scholar. He traces his family history by retracing the route Cortes
took to Tenochtitlan and visits the great pyramids of Mexico. He
introduces the reader to his family in Texas and traces their history
for several generations. He brings to life his family history that is
often times lost when we are removed from the old country. See the
reviews on Amazon.com by following the link above.
by Hugh Thomas the author of "Conquest: Montezuma, Cortes, and the Fall
of Old Mexico". Biographies of over 2000 of Cortes' Conquistadors. From
previously unpublished materials of Mexico and Spain. See more by
following the link above. Hardcover - 464 pages.
by Bryan Sykes a leading world authority on DNA and human evolution. The book that
started it all.
The science of finding our ancestors through DNA. Now, utilizing the information
in this book we can find our ancestors using mitochondrial DNA or Y
chromosome research. Hardcover - 320 pages.
by Michael Wood. In his latest series, he walks in the footsteps of
Cortés, Pizzaro, and their fellow conquerors to explain what happened
when two cultures met for the first time. Michael Wood brings history
alive as he relates this story of conquest, heroism and greed and shows
us how the Conquistadors have changed the way that we see the world, in
terms of history and civilization, justice and human rights. Wood's
passion for the story he's telling makes Conquistadors compelling viewing.
by Carl Laurence Duaine.
This book brings to life the story of our ancestors from Northeastern
Mexico. The Author identifies the founders and this is backed up by
our study on Y-DNA. This book was the inspiration for this website.
The author spent over 20 years tracing his mothers side of the family
to some in a group of over 150 families of Iberian decent that
settled Mexico from the time of Cortes. Much of the book documents
the lives and descendants of these people. Includes land grant and
coat of arms information. Recommended for your genealogical library.
346 8 1/2 X 11 pages.
Many details relating to the conquest are from the first hand
account in the book "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico 1517-1521"
by the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo (translated to english).
The Author viewed the writings of others who were not there and
wanted to set the record straight. 468 pages
by Robert Himmerich Y Valencia. Excellent source of genealogical and
historical information on the early settlers and much more information
on the conquistadors. Recommended for your genealogical library.
506 settlers are profiled. 304 pgs.
by Hugh Tomas. A comprehensive study and an excellent book. See the
online reviews posted on amazon.com. 602 pages.
by Patricia de Fuentes. Accounts by Juan Diaz, Andres de Tapia, Cortes,
Francisco de Aguilar, Pedro de Alvarado, Diego del Pilar and "the
Anonymous Conquistador". All give you a feeling of what it must have been
like during the conquest as well as information on the cultures and life
in those days. 208 pages.
FUNDADORES DE NUEVA GALICIA, GUADALAJARA, TOMO I by Guillermo
Garmendia Leal. Excellent source of information on the early settlers
of Nueva Galicia. Covers the years 1529 to 1650. Recommended for your
genealogical library. Spanish text. 165 pages.
Sumaria Relacion De Las Cosas De La Nueva Espana 
by Baltasar Dorantes de Carranza. Excellent source of genealogical
information on the Conquistadors. Recommended for your genealogical
library. Spanish text. 419 pages.
"Relacion Secreta de Conquistadores informes del archivo personal del Emperador
Carlos I" by Mariano Gonzalez-Leal.
"Indice Geobiografico de Cuarenta Mil Pobladores Espanoles de America en El
Siglo XVI" Tomo I 1493-1519 and Tomo II 1520-1539 by Peter Boyd Bowman.
List and some details of the first conquistadors to the New World.
"Don Juan de Onate, Colonizer of New Mexico 1595-1628"
by George P. Hammond And Agapito Rey (also available through your libraries book
exchange program). Currently out of print.
New Mexico's First Colonists
New Mexico's first colonists: The 1597-1600 enlistments for New Mexico under Juan de Oñate
by David H. Snow. A compilation of what is known genealogically, of these
early settlers. 131 pages.
Diccionario Heraldico, Apellidos y Nombres Propios by Lander Munoz
Excellent source of Heraldry information with coat of arms information on those
coming to the Americas and family histories. Recommended for your
genealogical library. Spanish text. 417 pages.
A very interesting book with an excellent Epilog.
Very easy reading.
Books on others researching their culture and personal history
A best seller by Victor Villasenor. Follow the history of the authors family for several
generations. This history could easily be our own. This bestselling
non fiction work easily reads like a novel. See the reviews on
Amazon.com by following the link above.
by John Phillip Santos. The Author John Santos (de los Santos) is a Rhodes
Scholar. He traces his family history by retracing the route Cortes
took to Tenochtitlan and visits the great pyramids of Mexico. He
introduces the reader to his family in Texas and traces their history
for several generations. He brings to life his family history that is
often times lost when we are removed from the old country. See the
reviews on Amazon.com by following the link above.
by Hugh Thomas the author of "Conquest: Montezuma, Cortes, and the Fall
of Old Mexico". Biographies of over 2000 of Cortes' Conquistadors. From
previously unpublished materials of Mexico and Spain. See more by
following the link above. Hardcover - 464 pages.
by Bryan Sykes a leading world authority on DNA and human evolution. The book that
started it all.
The science of finding our ancestors through DNA. Now, utilizing the information
in this book we can find our ancestors using mitochondrial DNA or Y
chromosome research. Hardcover - 320 pages.
by Michael Wood. In his latest series, he walks in the footsteps of
Cortés, Pizzaro, and their fellow conquerors to explain what happened
when two cultures met for the first time. Michael Wood brings history
alive as he relates this story of conquest, heroism and greed and shows
us how the Conquistadors have changed the way that we see the world, in
terms of history and civilization, justice and human rights. Wood's
passion for the story he's telling makes Conquistadors compelling viewing.
by Carl Laurence Duaine.
This book brings to life the story of our ancestors from Northeastern
Mexico. The Author identifies the founders and this is backed up by
our study on Y-DNA. This book was the inspiration for this website.
The author spent over 20 years tracing his mothers side of the family
to some in a group of over 150 families of Iberian decent that
settled Mexico from the time of Cortes. Much of the book documents
the lives and descendants of these people. Includes land grant and
coat of arms information. Recommended for your genealogical library.
346 8 1/2 X 11 pages.
Many details relating to the conquest are from the first hand
account in the book "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico 1517-1521"
by the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo (translated to english).
The Author viewed the writings of others who were not there and
wanted to set the record straight. 468 pages
by Robert Himmerich Y Valencia. Excellent source of genealogical and
historical information on the early settlers and much more information
on the conquistadors. Recommended for your genealogical library.
506 settlers are profiled. 304 pgs.
by Hugh Tomas. A comprehensive study and an excellent book. See the
online reviews posted on amazon.com. 602 pages.
by Patricia de Fuentes. Accounts by Juan Diaz, Andres de Tapia, Cortes,
Francisco de Aguilar, Pedro de Alvarado, Diego del Pilar and "the
Anonymous Conquistador". All give you a feeling of what it must have been
like during the conquest as well as information on the cultures and life
in those days. 208 pages.
FUNDADORES DE NUEVA GALICIA, GUADALAJARA, TOMO I by Guillermo
Garmendia Leal. Excellent source of information on the early settlers
of Nueva Galicia. Covers the years 1529 to 1650. Recommended for your
genealogical library. Spanish text. 165 pages.
Sumaria Relacion De Las Cosas De La Nueva Espana 
by Baltasar Dorantes de Carranza. Excellent source of genealogical
information on the Conquistadors. Recommended for your genealogical
library. Spanish text. 419 pages.
"Relacion Secreta de Conquistadores informes del archivo personal del Emperador
Carlos I" by Mariano Gonzalez-Leal.
"Indice Geobiografico de Cuarenta Mil Pobladores Espanoles de America en El
Siglo XVI" Tomo I 1493-1519 and Tomo II 1520-1539 by Peter Boyd Bowman.
List and some details of the first conquistadors to the New World.
"Don Juan de Onate, Colonizer of New Mexico 1595-1628"
by George P. Hammond And Agapito Rey (also available through your libraries book
exchange program). Currently out of print.
New Mexico's First Colonists
New Mexico's first colonists: The 1597-1600 enlistments for New Mexico under Juan de Oñate
by David H. Snow. A compilation of what is known genealogically, of these
early settlers. 131 pages.
Diccionario Heraldico, Apellidos y Nombres Propios by Lander Munoz
Excellent source of Heraldry information with coat of arms information on those
coming to the Americas and family histories. Recommended for your
genealogical library. Spanish text. 417 pages.
A very interesting book with an excellent Epilog.
Very easy reading.
Books on others researching their culture and personal history
A best seller by Victor Villasenor. Follow the history of the authors family for several
generations. This history could easily be our own. This bestselling
non fiction work easily reads like a novel. See the reviews on
Amazon.com by following the link above.
by John Phillip Santos. The Author John Santos (de los Santos) is a Rhodes
Scholar. He traces his family history by retracing the route Cortes
took to Tenochtitlan and visits the great pyramids of Mexico. He
introduces the reader to his family in Texas and traces their history
for several generations. He brings to life his family history that is
often times lost when we are removed from the old country. See the
reviews on Amazon.com by following the link above.
by Hugh Thomas the author of "Conquest: Montezuma, Cortes, and the Fall
of Old Mexico". Biographies of over 2000 of Cortes' Conquistadors. From
previously unpublished materials of Mexico and Spain. See more by
following the link above. Hardcover - 464 pages.
by Bryan Sykes a leading world authority on DNA and human evolution. The book that
started it all.
The science of finding our ancestors through DNA. Now, utilizing the information
in this book we can find our ancestors using mitochondrial DNA or Y
chromosome research. Hardcover - 320 pages.
by Michael Wood. In his latest series, he walks in the footsteps of
Cortés, Pizzaro, and their fellow conquerors to explain what happened
when two cultures met for the first time. Michael Wood brings history
alive as he relates this story of conquest, heroism and greed and shows
us how the Conquistadors have changed the way that we see the world, in
terms of history and civilization, justice and human rights. Wood's
passion for the story he's telling makes Conquistadors compelling viewing.