Jamaica

Dunn's River Falls, Jamaica

Jamaica is a Caribbean island nation famous for its hilly interior and British colonial history. It obtained independence in 1962 and retains close connections with the Commonwealth. Kingston is the capital and largest city. Jamaica was a key site in the British colonial plantation economy, heavily reliant on enslaved African labor. After emancipation in 1834, many freed Jamaicans acquired land and formed independent communities.

Research your ancestors on MyHeritage

Subdivisions of Jamaica

Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes, which are organized into three ancient counties that have no administrative relevance:

Clarendon
Hanover
Kingston
Manchester
Portland
St Andrew
St Ann
St Catherine
St Elizabeth
St James
St Mary
St Thomas
Trelawny
Westmoreland

Jamaican ethnicity

See also: Jamaica - top ethnicities

Most Jamaicans descend from enslaved Africans brought by British colonizers. Smaller groups include descendants of Irish, Chinese, Indian, and Jewish immigrants. Emancipation in 1834 marked a shift in identity, community development, and recordkeeping.

Jamaican surnames

Many surnames stem from former plantation owners, colonial administrators, or were adopted post-emancipation. British naming conventions dominate, with biblical and virtue names specially common in older generations. Some examples of Jamaican surnames are:

Jamaican genealogy

Civil registration began in 1878, with previous Anglican church and slave registers serving as substitutes. The Registrar General's Department oversees records, much of which are computerized. When tracing a family, it is necessary to examine migration patterns.

Explore more about Jamaica

Jamaica - Vital Records collection at MyHeritage
Jamaica - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage
Tracing your Jamaicans Roots. Registrar General’s Department