Portela - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

scully2_90250 — 2012-03-23 23:18:37Z

Got your 2 responses. My father's father was a Merchant Marine and the name could be Victor William, or William Victor Portela. That is all the info I have at the moment

Re: Setting the record straight

straingg — 2012-03-06 01:06:55Z

Hi,
I just had to reply...coincidence probably, but my father, John F. was the son of Maria Portela, and Henry Custin. He is actually listed at age 2 coming through Ellis Island from Puerto Rico, as John Portela. Maria Portela was the dsughter of Jose Portela , a cigar manufacturer from Puerto Rico.

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

straingg — 2012-03-06 00:50:13Z

Hi,
I am looking for family members...my Grandmother was Maria Portela from Ponce Puerto Rico. Her father was Jose Portela, of the cigar manufacturing conglomerate. He emigrated to NYC with his family in the early 1900's. Spme of his children were: Faust, Jose, Gabriel and Maria. Would love to know more about the Portels'a. I grew up in New Jersey, my dad was Maria Portela's only son, born in 1915. His sisters were Eva (1917) and Alicia (1913).

Re: Setting the record straight

PandMTree — 2012-02-28 00:36:00Z

Could you please tell me your father's name? My family has Portelas that were merchant marines. Thanks

Re: PORTELA ORIGIN.

LaLuz13 — 2011-02-04 16:29:35Z

hp65pony

My wife's brother in law is a Portela from Sonora, Mexico. I was told there are many Portelas' there.

Re: PORTELA ORIGIN.

hp65pony — 2011-01-25 21:18:36Z

Hello there,

I'm glad you asked this question. I'm a Portela in California and they are not to many of us at all here so knowing the orgin of my last name is a little hard. We are actually Mexican but our last name isn't a Mexican name at all, Portela. I've done research and have seen the island called Portela in Brazil and have figured probably Portuguese but my grandma once said that her great grandma was italian. If you ever find out more info on the name Portela I would love to know it.

Thank you,
Hector Portela
Portela.Hector@gmail.com

Portela family-Jose Portela marriage to Manria Nunez

straingg — 2010-07-04 19:35:24Z

I am searching for my Dad's Mother's family.
Her name was Maria Portela and her family came from Ponce or Catano, Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Maria was born about 1894. I believe she was the oldest child of Jose Portela and Maria Nunez Portela (Maria Nunez Y Carmona de Portela). Below are Maris and her siblings from the 1910 census.
Maria Portela Y Nunez

José a Portela Y Nunez

Matirde Portela Y Nunez

Fausto Portela Y Nunez

Roberto Portela Y Nunez

Gabriel Portela Y Nunez

Juana Pizarro Y Serrano

Maria was apparently estranged from her family when she married Henry W. Custin. Maria had 3 children, my father, John F Custin, and 2 daughters Eva and Alicia. I would like to find any relatives from either the Portela's, the Custin's, or the Jack Jones(USN) families. My Aunt Eva (Maria's daughter) married Jack Jones and lived in Newport News VA. She has 3 boys I think!

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

belapt — 2010-04-05 02:13:36Z

Just want to give the Portelas out there some info - the International Airport in Lisbon Portugal is named Portela.
I live in New Jersey - My fathers name was Manuel Jose Da Silva Portela and his fathers name was Joao Filipe Portela - I'm sure my grandfather had more names then that but he passed away when I was a little girl. In New Jersey I have come across other Portelas but they spell their name Portella - they came from Spain - But in European history with all the invasions - it's kind of hard to find the first Portela - also in Europe - back in the day - the children did not always take the fathers last name, which makes it even harder to find family history. Most of the Portelas in Puerto Rico and Mexico originated in Europe, as everyone knows the Portugues and Spaniard where great seamen who travel the the ocean blue (LOL). Good luck on your quest.

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

LaLuz13 — 2010-04-04 05:13:37Z

Hello Celeste,

Do you have any info. on the Mexico Branch of Portela brother? My Sister-in-Law's husband name is Manuel Portela and his Grandfather's name was Pedro Portela Hernandez if I remember correctly.

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

LaLuz13 — 2010-04-04 05:01:05Z

I agree with you. My sister-in-law's husband is from Sonora, Mexico...he says his grandfather came from a small village from the border of Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico. People that knows him, say that last name is well known in Portugal.

He has met people from Cuba with the Portela last name.

Looking forward to finding out more.

Re: Claudia Portela

LaLuz13 — 2010-04-04 04:43:54Z

My sister in law is married with a Portela in Sonora, Mexico. It is a very unpopular surname. We are trying to find ancestors from Mexico and work our way to Spain and Portugal.

Any help is appreciated.

Re: PORTELA ORIGIN.

LaLuz13 — 2010-04-04 04:39:30Z

More likely, Portela Origin is from Portugal. Portaguese settled in Brazil, that is why there are Portelas', Silvas', etc. in that country.

PORTELA ORIGIN.

mimpinina — 2009-03-31 20:46:13Z

I am a Portela. It is very typical last name in Brazil. When we went to Portugal we went to the town called Portela, where we were told it is where our family got their last name. It is very typical to have people to have the last name of the town they came from. Hope this helps. =)

Re: Claudia Portela

alexportela — 2007-06-07 08:13:33Z

Hi my name is Alessandro Portela, what part of Brazil you came from?
Best regards,

Alessandro

Re: Claudia Portela

claudiaribeiro1 — 2007-04-23 11:55:09Z

Hello
My name is Cláudia Portela. I'm from Portugal, but I'm living in Switzerland.
My mother tongue is portuguese, but I also speak english, french and spanish.
If you want "talk about anything", I'm the right person!!!
Send me a message, and if you prefer, we can speak in portuguese...

Cheers
Cláudia

Death of Umecindo PORTELLA in CA in 1857

danderup — 2006-01-18 19:40:20Z

Not related but may be of interest to someone who is.

Vern D
////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Transcribed by "Dee Sardoc" <deesar@frontiernet.net>
//////////////////////////////
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
*************************
>>Tuesday, 7 Apr 1857<<

BOY DROWNED -- Last evening, a Spanish boy named Umecindo PORTELLA, was drowned in the Mormon Slough a short distance from the city. He was in swimming at the time, as his clothes were found on the bank of the slough.

Portela

portelaclaudia — 2004-07-30 17:22:21Z

S.O.S. I´m from Brasil. I want to find a Portela to have fun... Please. Send me a message !!!!!!

Claudia Portela

portelaclaudia — 2004-07-30 17:17:01Z

Hi ! I want find some Portela who wants to talk about everything. I´m from Brasil. Please, sende me a message...
Kisses for all. By.

Portela from Spain to Cuba

naty00 — 2003-05-26 01:32:58Z

My great grandfather was from Alacranes, Matanzas Cuba
He was sent to Cuba during a war in Spain..His name was
Luis Angel Portela and had 14 children, one of his son's was
my grandfather Francisco. Many times our last name was
written Aportela because of the way my great grandfather signed his name...hope to find lost family members.

Portellas

ClaireHudson57 — 2002-07-25 19:54:14Z

Does anyone know of a connection to this spelling?
We are in South Africa, guessing that the origin is Portugal?

Re: Portela/Cuba/Miami

2002-05-01 01:29:00Z

Hello, I read your response to my sister Christine and one thing that struck me was that you're from Miami. I remember about 10 years ago I was watching 20/20 and heard of the Portela Mafia from Miami. Have you ever heard of them?

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

2002-04-29 07:18:14Z

It would make sense that they came from Galicia. According to the book "Historia de Familias Cubanas," the first known Portela to arrive in Cuba, at the beginning of the 18th century, was Don Miguel Rodriguez Portela, who came from Teon, in the province of Orense, in Galicia.

This would suggest that the Portelas of Spain may have had their roots in Galicia.

Re: Setting the record straight on the Cuban Portela's

2002-04-28 21:10:05Z

The first Portela known to arrive in Cuba was Don Miguel Rodri-
guez Portela y Rodriguez natural de Toen, provincia de Orense en Galicia quien caso en la Habana Parroquia del Espiritu Santo con Dona Gertrudis de Altamirano y Roxas el 2 de Agosto de 1717 ver "Historias de Familias Cubanas por el Conde de San Juan de Jaruco Volumen 7 pagina 302.
Hopefully this information will be helpful to the Cuban Portelas

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

2001-11-06 03:25:50Z

It certainly looks like you know more that I know! I only know that my grandfather's name is Avelino Portela and that he might have been from Spain, Portugal, or Italy. :-(

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

2001-11-06 00:12:27Z

That's funny that you mention your grandfathers last name, because my grandfather (the non-Portela) is Pascual Zequeira. Very similar to your grandfather, but he was born in Havana Cuba.

Re: Another Portela Looking for Portelas

2001-11-04 18:45:57Z

Hello,
Im one more confused Portela from....Brazil : )
My grandfather Evaristo Zaqueiro Portela was born in Ponteviedra, Galícia, Spain. He and his brother came to Brazil about 1905 and Manuel Portela, his brother went to México.
Ponteviedra sits at the north of Spain, in region called RIAS BAIXAS, and I know that are lots of Portelas there.
Probably first ancestors came from Santiago de Campostela,
city invaded by Scandinavians from 800 to 1100 a.d.
My mail moeda@hotmail.com
Ill be glad to get in touch with others Portelas
Best regards, Celeste

Augustos "Gus" Portela

littlejolori — 2001-07-08 19:14:37Z

Gus was my natural great grandfather. He was born in Stockton,CA and later moved to Idaho. I knew him and my Grandmother Lavinea before I was adopted and loved them dearly. Any information about them, their families and descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Portela Identity Crisis

2001-05-10 07:57:28Z

Wow, am I glad that I'm not the only one confused! It seems so difficult to track my family roots, especially since I don't read/speak spanish. Here's what I know or at least can verify so far - If this rings a bell to anyone, please drop me a line. My grandfather was Faust Portela. Born in Puerto Rico around 1899 or 1900. His father was Jose Portela, mother Maria Portela (nee Nunez) Maria was born in Puerto Rico between 1870 - 71 Her father was Lorenzo Nunez and mother Dolores Nunez (nee Carnona). By 1920 Census they (Jose & Maria) were living in NYC with their 5 children, including my grandfather, Faust. I was told that they owned sugar cane plantations in Puerto Rico prior to the US invasion in 1898. Are there any records of confiscated lands? Records of actions taken against those who did not swear allegiance to US? Not knowing the area where this family lived, how does one search for birth records and are there any available prior to 1900? Hope someone out there can help!!! Thanks

Just as confused

2001-04-23 17:35:36Z

Hi, Alphonso. I was as confused about my surname as you are. I had no idea where the surname 'Portela' originated from. What's even confusing that depending who I'm with, they will recognize the name as Italian, Portuguese or Spanish. Thanks for responding and Good Luck to you. John W. Portela

Another Portela Looking for Portelas

2001-04-20 14:20:23Z

Hi John & 'Portelas' I am another 'Confused Portela"!
I was born in Colombia. Besides the familiy members
I never met another Portela until I was 15 years old!
We were told that "perhaps" our ancestors came from Italy or Portugal.
When I arrived to the states in 1975 I met 'several Portelas'. And I found the
same confusion with them. The Patern was: "Italy, Spain, and Portugal"!
But in actuality they never were able to confirm it either !!
The only certain thing is that now there are Portelas in
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Argentina, USA, Colombia, just to only name
the ones I have met here in US!!! But no one knows for sure where their
last name came from- other than the obvious: Europe!!

Setting the record straight

2001-04-03 18:48:05Z

Hi, Christine!!

This is Dad. Just want to clarify some things. My father was a merchant marine. When he was on leave, he met Nana and they got married and I was conceived. After his leave was up (and from this point on, I don't anything else or for that matter what is the truth about my father), he went back to the ship and when he was out to sea, the boat blew up. Nana was living with my father's mother at the time and when he died, Nana was no longer allowed to stay. That's (to my knowledge) when we (Nana) no longer stayed in contact with my father's side of the family.

Nana (maiden name: Hernandez) is Puerto Rican and was born in Massachusetts. When she lived in New York, she lived in what is now or was Spanish Harlem (around Lexington Avenue). My godparents were Puerto Rican (they've passed away in the early '80s) and lived in New Jersey before moving back to Puerto Rico (where Nana had visited and kept contact with them).

I was born in Bronx, NY in 1946 at Morrisania Hospital (149th St and Grand Concourse). At the time, this was a Jewish Hospital.

I hope this answers some questions. I, too, would like to know about my father and his side of the family. I was always told that he was Italian. Yet, others have said that it is a Portuguese surname. And, then again, others recognize the surname as Italian. Go figure.

Bye, y'all!!

Hello! :)

2001-04-03 13:41:11Z

I was born and raised in Miami FL and I'm 17 years old. My father was born in Havana, Cuba. He has two brothers, one lives in Cuba the other in Texas.
I think my grandfather (he died when my father was 13) was either born in Cuba or in Spain. I know that he was a general (or some other position) in Cuba's army during the revolution. That is about it.
I always thought that Portela was a common Portugese name, and I'm probably decended somewhere down the line. I think someone had told me that Portela was the name an airport in either Brazil or Portugal. :)

to say hi

2001-04-03 12:21:40Z

Christine- I got your message and I was born and raised in Los Angeles I am 32 years old.
What is your age? I do not think I have or anyone else in my family has come across the name Portela. My father's father died when he was little so I do not think they know anything about the background. My father was born in New York and I do not think he even knew of his fathers family its weird I have always thought I was Italian and I really would want to know my true ancestory

Portela/Cuba/Miami

2001-04-02 21:36:22Z

My name is Christine Portela also and my father is from Cuba. I think my grandfather was from Spain.
I now live in Miami. I find it interesting that we have the same name though...b/c i've never met another person.

Thank You

2000-07-27 21:00:43Z

Anabel
Thank You for the information
Christine

CHRISTINA PORTELA

2000-07-26 16:16:49Z

Christina there is a lot of confusion when it comes to the name Portela, I'm Portuguese yet you will fine that in Europe there are Portelas' in Spain, Italy and Portugal. I once had a history teacher argue with me that I was Italian. My father and his father before him where born in Portugal. So to me I am Portuguese. Yet if you look back into the history books you will fine that due to wars and exploration we are probably a mixture of the 3 countries. If I was you I'd look into Puerto Ricos history. You might surprised to find out that your true heritage is Italian no matter what you sister says. I know it very difficult to find records because back in those days then didn't keep many. Go luck in your search.

Nationality

2000-07-18 18:20:27Z

Thanks for the information. There is a confusion in my family. my fathers side of the family says we are Italian. My sister Theresa will correct me and say I'm PR when I tell someone my nationality so I just say I'm mixed with both. I'll try and find out more infor about my father's side of the family Thanks again Christine

I want to know info on my fathers side of the family

2000-07-18 18:10:13Z

You have been my first reply thanks for getting information from your family

Also...

2000-07-18 11:45:45Z

OOPs I see you listed your Grandmom's maiden
name as Josephine Hernandez. Let me ask the
family and see if the name rings a bell.

In response to Christine Portela..

2000-07-18 11:43:59Z

It's very very likely you are Puerto-Rican.
All of the NY Portelas are mostly related
AND they are Puerto Rican. Alot of Portelas
still live in PR and even Florida.

Who were your father's parents?

Hope this new info helps.

Sincerely,
Mili

Searching for Rita Portela

2000-07-04 10:26:18Z

My grandmother's name was Rita Portela. I have
been told that she was born as a US citizen,
but I don't know where. She was married to
Manuel Fernandez and lived in Balbona, Asturias,
Spain where she had four children. She died in
childbirth in or around 1936. I do not know her
parents' names, but I do know that they lived
in the Dominican Republic in the 1950's.
Can anyone help me find the information I need?

fathers ancestors

2000-04-04 21:24:32Z

I would want to find my fathers ancestors. His name is John W Portela and he was born in New York. His mothers maiden name is Josephine Hernandez. I would like to know if I am Italian or Puertorican.