Caban surname history in Puerto Rico, as I know it.
My father Eduardo Cabán, told me that Cabán is an Irish surname, that 3 brothers,most likely in the early 1650's, came to PR and settled in Moca, which has a beatiful green countryside. I have a book on Venezuela emigration to PR from 1810 to 1840, in the thousands of entries there is not a single Cabán.If you look at an ancient Ireland map you will find a region called Cavan.My father's Grandfather on his fathers side was called Geronimo Cabán born in Moca apprx. in 1820(according to the US 1910 Census). An Aguadilla historian Don Hermán Reichard(RIP) wrote a note to my father stating that he found a marriage certificate of a person with a Cabán surname fo the 1750's. For the 1910 US Census, there were 1320 entries for Cabán, all but 10 to 20 were from PR, at that time if my memory serves me correctly about 50% of towns had a person with Cabán name. If my great-grandfather was born in 1820, that means that there was someone previous with the name, at least by mid 1750's.Some 20-30 years ago when the phone book in PR was one,plus San Juan Metro, I made a list with a map of towns with Caban name phone #, most the towns-except 5 to 8 towns-had a Cabán name phone #. The towns with over a 100 entries were Moca and Aguadilla. One thing is for sure in all that I have read of people looking for Cabán surname roots, not a single one claims for it to be Spaniard. My mother Natividad, which was an avid soap opera watcher said that since the mid 1950;s to the time of her demise on 2010 she never ever saw the Cabán surname in the production credits regardless of origin(soap operas originated in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and elsewhere in Latin America.) Recently a person informed of a María Cabán (birth 1698 / Aguada) that married Juan Bautista Olavarría(birth 1698/Bilbao,) a Spanish military, for a local girl to marry a coveted Spanish soldier we must think that she comes from a well off family, we can speculate that María is at least a 3rd generation Cabán, so that confirms that the Cabán surname has been present in PR for close to 400 years.
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
This is a very interesting post about the Caban surname. Thank you. My great-grandmother is Maria Caban (b.abt. 1864 in Quebradillas, d. in 1960 in Camuy) Her marriage certificate to Domingo Felix in 1887 in Camuy states that her father was Manuel Caban who was born in Aguadilla. I have nothing else on him, but I imagine if I could get a hold of the church baptism records, I'd find him. I've just restarted my genealogy, so I've got a lot to do.
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
Your version of the origin of the Cabán last name sounds very logical. However, there was a Cabán de Avilés family in Aguada, of noble origin, in the 1700's. Please look at the research done by Dr. Adolfo Pérez Comas about the founders of that coastal town.
There is also a very large branch of the Cabán family in Lares. From that branch was Francisco Galeno Cabán, the coffee and tobacco grower and politician who settled in Utuado, where he fathered composer Ketty Cabán. Lets try to find the origins. Is Mrs. Reichard talking about the Cabán de Avilés?
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
If you look at the 1910 US Census there are many Caban entries for Quebradillas. I have not found an equivalent to a population census for the time that Puerto Rico was a Spain colony. The only sort of accesible demographic data comes from Church records and even though these were done using liguid ink-which means that it does not fade while the paper exists-the truth is that these were subject to hurracaines,fires and rain itself.Also since this appears not to be an area of interest for local Catholic Churchs(I am a practicing catholic myself), the record books for most of XVIII(if available) and XIX century have no index. If I want information a written request must be submitted to the Bishop, then I have to do the search myself. Let's go back to surname talk,recently I visited(July 2009) a nephew of my father-early 80's with a recent Alzheimer diagnosis-, he confirms the information-as told to him by his grandfather-that Caban(Cavan) is an Irish surname. There is a "Barrio" in Moca with many Caban families, he said there was a Caban ancestor who owned land and as the family grew he gave a piece of land to each descendant.I asked him if these Caban's were "of light skin or of darder skin color?".He said "they were wery white". Please don't infer any racial overtones, I am at least a 4th generation puertorrican and I know that most of the slaves were black and lived in the coastal towns where sugar cane was grown, I also know that many of the french settlers in PR were or dark skin color and it is a historical fact that when Spain began colonizing the New World they have being for 800 years under Arab dominion. I have been told that if you go to Cairo you feel that like in a PR neighborhood.
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
Back in 2002, I wrote to the "La Cancilleria, Diocesis de Arecibo" requesting permission to do research in my local church of interest in Camuy. Back then I belonged to the "Sociedad Puertorriquena de Genealogia". I can't recall if when I wrote the letter to the bishop, I mentioned this fact, but I probably did to be sure the church understood that I was serious in my research. They graciously gave me the letter and when I visited PR in 2002, I was allowed access to the church records with no problem. I found about seven baptism and marriage records, but at about $10.00 per, it was going to become expensive to document. Also, my time was limited, so I wasn't able to be as thorough as I had hoped. I will take a closer look at the 1910 Census in Quebradillas and talk again to my older family members to see how much they recall. All my ancestors tracing back to 1910 were mostly sugar cane farmers, and I only hear stories of dire poverty. The Felix and Caban side of my family were fair-skinned, some with blue eyes- and tall. I've heard rumors of my ancestors coming from the Canary Islands and the Dominican Republic. I'm sorry I didn't ask more questions of my grandparents when they were alive. Who knew?
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
I found the note that Mr. Herman Reichard wrote to my father, since both passed away over 10 years ago and were over 80 years of age when they died I will assume that this note was written in the 1970's.Mr Reichard obtain the information from Church records he searched.It is in spanish so I will translate as best as possible.Mr Reichard says the Caban surname is of Irish origin,from the Cavan county in Ireland.The eldest descendants he interviewed gave a consistent description of characteristics that match exactly with the numerous Caban families living in Moca rural areas. Mr Reichard stated that Caban were a very wealthy family that married into many distinguished familes of the area that comprises Añasco,Rincón,Aguada,Aguadilla, Moca,San Sebastian, Lares and Isabela.The first Caban in Puerto Rico must have lived in this area(Moca-Aguadilla) iver 300 years ago, the absence of record makes it impossible to determine who specifically was this person, however since they were owners of "enormes cantidades de terreno", "podria saberse algun dia a nombre de quien se hizo la concesión".My best understanding is that they had large chunks of land and that if somehow it could be determined to who the land was granted then we would know who was the original landowner. Mr. Reichard mentions a wedding without dates of José Cabán and Dionisia de Avilés.Then he mentions another wedding of Francisco Roque Cabán(Born in Aguada in 1752-died in Aguadilla in 1842) married to María de la Rosa(Born in Aguadilla).Last he mentions another wedding of María del Carmen Cabán(Born in Aguadilla in 1780, died in Aguadilla in 1838)the person to who she married data is incomplete(no last name and the year of birth is 1792 and the year of death is 1801?-this does not make sense).This is the information I have.
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
Puerto Rico was the last port when leaving from the Caribbean, Central and South America to Spain and Puerto Rico was the last Spain colony, so it is my guess that everybody departing had to stop here. Aguadilla being in the Northwest was the harbor of choice.During the Spanish control of Puerto Rico I was told that the only Customs office that could handle business in four languages(Spanish, English, French and Italian) was in Aguadilla. In Aguadilla we have historical families(+150 years) with German(Reichard/Sanders) and Italian(Di Cristina/Yumet) surnames.What all this means is that it should not be surprising to suggest tha Cabán is an Irish surname since Aguadilla was a contact point for people either entering or leaving the New World. Consider this also, since the 1350's(to the mid 1800's) the North of Europe was going through what is now known as the Little Ice Age,millions died, crops failed, so it made all the sense to move to new countries(U.S.)and warmer weather(Caribbean).
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
Hi there, my name is Elsa Nieves. I am daughter of Ruth Caban, one of the daughters of Clotilde Caban, who my mom says that they originated in Moca, PR. later on they lived in Añasco, PR I have been searching the Caban family for some time now, to no avail, trying to find at least a 3rd or 4th cousin of my mom. She has always wanted to find a family member of hers. Mom as a little one migrated to NY with her parents and siblings in the late 40"s. I found my grandma Clotilde Caban at the time 25 yrs old in the 1930 census married to Pedro Cordero, my grandfather and living in Santurce, San Juan, I cant find her 1o years before when she was i 15 nor 5 yrs old even more back. but my grandpa yes living with his sister and bro in law, but not in the 1900 census, i guess it want completed that time. When they moved to New York, my mom remembers her mom writiin the 1930 where my mom was born in june 1940. ng to her dad Juan Caban living in Añasco, and receiving letters from him, being that he could not write, written by his other 2 daughters, Flora and Francisca Caban. Being that my mom was too young thats all she has of information. Clotilde pretty young in age,died of a massive heart attack when my mom was about 8 or 9 yrs old. She never had any info from them again and she does not remember her dad talking about them. My mom ruth Caban is 69 sick, her aunts are dead for sure, well that what i guess but her aunts must have had children and she's wants so much to find at least one. My mom is of very light very fair skin, long noses, clear eyes and light brown hair. Do u have any idea how i might be able to find at least hercousins. Please help if you can. I leave in PR for 10 years, all my life i lived in NJ and NY. If only I can reunite at least a cousin before my mom dies would be so awesome. thanks for your time. Dios te bendiga.. Waiting for a response Elsa married Batista holyb4him@aol.com
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
To Elsa Nieves daughter of Ruth Cabán. My guess is that the original persons who beared the Caban surname in Puerto Rico must have married and reproduced very early and then became separate families. I said this because even though it is name common to some 800 families in Moca and Aguadilla,many are not related to each other. What I am saying is that I have no way to help you find your mother relatives.I suggest you try the 1910 US Census I believe it has somewhat reliable info on PR population. If you come to PR you can try the Registro Demográfico,this is where they issue Birth and Death certificates,they have XIX century data, but it is not in computers,I believe only data from the 1930's on is digitalized.Then there are Catholic Church records and even though these go back to the 1700's you need a special Bishop's permit and it must be done by you personally.These are hand written books some have an alphabetical index(XX century and some from the 1880's) otherwise you have to go page by page,book by book.It is fancy hand writting very difficult to understand.
I am not trying to paint a bleak picture, I am just trying to say Genealogy is a difficult endeavor to which you must committ to overcome frustation.
I personally have found up to my great grand parents on both sides of the family.
Le me go back to Cabán's becoming separate families.The 1910 US Census,shows some persons being Cabán Cabán. A person very much into genealogy told me that by the early 1800's the Catholic Church in PR verified that persons who were to be married and have the same last name were not relatives-this is forbidden by the Catholic Church-. What this means is that by late in the XIX Century the Cabán surname had spread enough for people to be married carrying the same last name,thus Cabán Cabán.
If you look at previous post on Cabán's you must know I believe it is of Irish origin,who first lived in Moca, a similar landscape to Ireland and that also explain fair skin and light eyes color. Remember when spaniard came to PR in 1493, they have been under muslim control for over 800 years. That is why even today you visit Cairo and you feel as if you where in PR. I can't say have research extensively,but I have never seen the Cabán surname in any of what used to be Spain's colonies in Central and South America.
I hope I have been helpful.
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Re: Caban surname history in puerto rico, as I know it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me. I really appreciate it so much. I now am living in Puerto Rico due to my Husband's job. so I will take a time out to visit Añasco as soon as I can. I long to find a caban, one of the children of my Mother's aunts. There has to be someone out there that is a first, 2nd cousin. I see in 1930 my grandmother 25 yrs clotilde caban married to my granddad Pedro Cordero, living exactly where my mom recall living,in Santurce but for lack of knowledge I think, I just cant fine her in the 1920 census, nor her Sistrs Flora and Francisca Caban, her father living still in the 40"s in bo Espinos-Añasco, his name Juan Caban. An ideas how else to go about searching them? Again thanks for your time and help
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