by Noel Shafi, M.S. and Julian Núñez
July 2020
Abstract: This paper examines the genealogy of several Núñez families from the province of Santiago, Dominican Republic from the 18th century onward. The authors used FamilySearch and Ancestry in order to access digital records of archives from civil and church authorities in Santiago. Each of the Núñez families discussed in this work appear to have a unique ancestry and distinct regional identity, although they may ultimately be related if they were to be traced further back in time. It was found that many of these families lived in the same rural towns of Santiago for centuries. A brief narrative including oral history, genetic genealogy, and family history will be presented for each of the Núñez lineages identified by the authors. A map of Santiago will also be presented in order to identify the main towns in which these Núñez families originate from. Some of the information in this article is based on genealogical research conducted by the authors, while some of it is based on previous works by Carlos Larrazabal Blanco, Juan Francisco Bisonó, the Instituto Dominicano de Genealogia (IDG), and Noel Shafi.
The Núñez de los Reyes of Baitoa
The origins of the Núñez de los Reyes of Baitoa begins with Isidro Núñez.
Isidoro Núñez was born possibly in Santiago, Dominican Republic around 1700. He also died in the Dominican Republic. This Núñez family was made up of farmers in the Cibao, the northern valley of the Dominican Republic, specializing in the production of tobacco and sugarcane. This Núñez family lived in Santiago province since the early Spanish colonial period of the Dominican Republic. Many settled in the town of Baitoa, a town located 13 miles south of the city of Santiago, and east of the Yaque del Norte river. The original Spanish Núñez family in Spain are believed to have been Catalonian, and some were Sephardic Jews, according to oral history. His wife’s name is unknown. Based on genetic genealogy, this Núñez family originated in the Aran Valley region in Lleida, Spain. They likely immigrated from Spain to the Dominican Republic in the 1600s.
Isidoro had two children, Isidro Núñez and José Núñez, both of whom were probably born in Santiago.
Isidro Núñez married María Reynoso in the 1750s. They had: José, Pedro, Santiago, Rosa, Luisa, and Manuel Núñez Reynoso.
José Núñez married Catalina de los Reyes in the 1750s. They had: Ambrocio, Jacinto, María, Francisco (c. 1760), Felipe (c. 1765), Juan (c. 1775), and Augusto Núñez de los Reyes (c. 1778).
Felipe Núñez de los Reyes married Ana Tineo in the 1790s. They had María Ramona Núñez (1793–), Antonio Núñez (1799–), Petronila Núñez (1800–), Manuel Núñez (1804–), María Matilde Núñez (1808–1869), and Manuela Núñez (?).
Augusto Núñez de los Reyes married Ana Libertad Caba. They had Pedro Núñez Caba. Pedro Núñez married Marta del Rosario.
Francisco Núñez de los Reyes married Catalina Tavarez Tineo in the 1770s. They had: Rafael Núñez Tavarez (c. 1800) and Francisco Núñez Tavarez (c. 1801).
Rafael Núñez Tavarez married Francisca Valerio. They had: María Natividad, María del Pilar, and José María Núñez Valerio. All three siblings were born in the 1820s. María Natividad married Manuel Tineo and settled in San José de las Matas. Maria del Pilar married her distant cousin, Benito Núñez Cerda, and settled in Arroyo Hondo.
José María Núñez Valerio married Bernarda Franco in the 1840s and settled in Baitoa. José María was born circa 1825 and died on July 2, 1895. José María and Bernarda had many children together including: Sebastián, María Dolores, Petronila Amalia, María de la O, Martín Antonio, Félix, María Adelaida, Rafael, and Baldomero Antonio Núñez Franco (1874-1954).
José María Núñez Valerio also had an extramarital relationship with Prudencia Pérez Pérez (daughter of Clemente Pérez and Beatriz Pérez). They had Reina Julia Pérez and José Eugenio Pérez. The Pérez were originally from San José de las Matas.
Baldomero Antonio Núñez Franco was the youngest son of José María Núñez Valerio. He was a farmer, rancher, poet, watchmaker, and storyteller. Baldomero had a premarital relationship with Maria del Carmen Valerio, and they had two children: María Josefa Núñez Valerio and Ana Rita Núñez Valerio. The Valerio family were from La Zanja. He then married Rosalía Hernández in 1893. The Hernández family were Tavera, La Vega. They had: María Adelina de Jesus (1894-1957), Petronila Amalia (1896-1992), José Liberato (1902-1989), Eusebio Antonio (1903-1998), Felicia de Jesús (1905-1990), Saturnino de Jesús (1905-1985), Miguel Antonio Núñez Hernández (1907-1980). After Rosalía died circa 1907, Baldomero remarried with Ana Matilde Rufino. The Rufino family were from Santo Cerro, La Vega. They had Ana Caona (1910-1983), José María (1912-2002), and Rafael de Jesús Núñez Rufino (1915-1991).
Jose Eugenio (Núñez) Pérez was a son of Jose Maria Núñez Valerio. He was born in López, Santiago in 1863 and died in Baitoa, Santiago in 1951. He married Amelia Pérez, his second cousin, in 1885. They had Josefa de Jesus Pérez (1888–1960), Eugenio Francisco Pérez
(1888–1920), Arturo Pérez (1891–1960), Francisco Eugenio Pérez (1892–1980), Ester de la Caridad Pérez (1896-), Rosa Pérez (1897-), Blanca Pérez (1900–1987), Lidia del Carmen Pérez (1901–1981), and Ramón Elfidio Pérez (1906-).
Reina Julia (Núñez) Pérez was a daughter of José María Núñez Valerio. She was born in López, Santiago circa 1862 and died in Baitoa, Santiago in 1953. She married Gabriel Franco Núñez in 1883. Gabriel was one of the first community teachers in Baitoa. He was originally from Arroyo Hondo. Gabriel was born circa 1862 and died in 1943. He was the son of Justo Franco and María Francisca Núñez. Gabriel and Reina had Ernestina Franco (1884–1962), Erminda Franco
(1887–1970), Gabriel Eugenio "Bilo" Franco (1889–1949), Agripina del Carmen Franco (1891–1977), María Cristina Franco (1893–1941), María Otilia Franco (1896–), Herminio Honorio Franco (1898–1933), Julia Antonia Franco (1900–1993), and Laura Otilia Franco (1902–1986).
Noel Shafi is descended from the Baldomero and Reina Julia branches of the family.
A genealogical DNA test was completed with descendants from the Núñez family. The Y-chromosome haplogroup for the Núñez de los Reyes is R-M167.
The Núñez Tavares of Baitoa
The origin of the Núñez Pérez of Baitoa begins with Matias Núñez and Felicita Tavares. Matias was born possibly in Baitoa, Santiago circa 1820. Felicita was probably born somewhere in Santiago, as many Tavarez were living in the same region. They married around 1849. They had: María Mercedes Núñez (c. 1850-), Santiago Núñez (c. 1857-), and Secundina Núñez (c. 1858-).
María Mercedes Núñez Tavares married Domingo de la Cruz in 1870. Santiago Núñez Tavares married María Trifona Pérez Guzmán (1860-) in 1882. María was born in Santo Domingo, although her Pérez or Guzmán family were from Moca, Espaillat. Secundina married Carlos Díaz in 1876. Descendents of the Núñez Tavares family continued to live in Baitoa for generations thereafter.
A genealogical DNA test has not been completed with descendants from this family.
The Núñez Fernández of Angostura
The ancestors of this family line are José Antonio Núñez and Ana Josefa Fernández Tavarez. Based on family oral history, José was from Cartagena, Murcia, Spain and came to the Dominican Republic with his brother and a priest as missionaries. This family actually descends from the Núñez de los Reyes family.
José had a brother named Hermenegildo Núñez and a sister named Baltasara Núñez. The were all children of Juan Núñez de los Reyes and Maria Fernandez. His brother, Hermenegildo Núñez, married Ramona Duarte and Asunción Gómez with descendents in Palmar, Las Lagunas, Banegas, and Estancia del Yaque. His sister, Baltasara Núñez, married Julian Perez, with descendants in Lopez, Baitoa.
The family commonly practiced endogamy by marrying relatives as close as first cousins. The primary families involved in marrying these Núñez were the Fernández, Tavarez, Payán (Payamps), Batista, and other Núñez families with unknown connections. These families were from neighboring areas near Angostura like: El Guano, Las Charcas, La Cruz de Copellar, Matanzas, and La Noriega.
José Antonio Núñez and Ana Josefa Fernández Tavarez had the following children: Marcelina, Felipe Antonio, José de Jesús, Pedro Antonio, Ana Josefa, Juan Ramón, María Dolores, and Santiago Núñez Fernández.
Felipe Núñez Fernández married María Petronila Fernández Fernández in 1875. She was his first cousin and second cousin once removed. They had: Ana Luisa Eva, Rosa María, Félix Antonio, and Ramón María Núñez Fernández.
José de Jesús Núñez Fernández married his first cousin Isabel María Fernández Tineo in 1870. They had the following children: Ana María, Jesus María, Ramon Antonio, José Eugenio, Isabel, Aurelio Roque, Juan María, Pedro María, María Cristina, and José Antonio Núñez Fernández.
Pedro Antonio Núñez Fernández married (1) Petronila Antonia Núñez Gómez (daughter of Hermenegildo), his first cousin and had Damián Antonio Núñez Núñez. He married (2) María del Carmen Pérez Sanchez and they had Paulino de Jesús and Elvira de Jesús Núñez Perez.
Juan Ramón Núñez Fernandez married María Altagracia Genao Rodríguez in 1875. They had: Ramón, Velerminio, Altagracia Braulia, José María, Apolinar Enrique, Esteban María, Juan Antonio, and Ana Mercedes Núñez Genao.
José Eugenio Núñez Fernández, the son of José de Jesús Núñez and Isabel María Fernández, married María Justiniana Núñez Payan in 1895. Her family connects to the Núñez of La Noriega. Julian Núñez is descended from José Eugenio Núñez.
Pedro María Núñez Fernández, the son of José de Jesús Núñez and Isabel María Fernández, married Lucia Núñez Payán in 1905.
A genealogical DNA test was completed with descendants from this family. The Y-chromosome haplogroup for the Núñez Fernandez is R-M167.
The Núñez of La Noriega
The origins of the Núñez of La Noriega begin with José Núñez who also went by Cirilo. He married twice and depending on the wife went by different names. His first wife was Catalina Fernández; they married in the early 1800s. His second wife was Candelaria Payán (possibly the daughter of Bruno Payán and Antonia Estrella Fernández). José Núñez also had a son who’s mother is currently unknown, José Núñez, who married María Ramona Payán. This couple had a daughter Julia Telésfora Núñez Payán who married Pedro Francisco de la Rosa Núñez, the son of Blas de la Rosa and Rita Núñez Fernández, in 1874 with second degree consanguinity.
José Núñez and Catalina Fernández had: Rita, Félix, and Virginia Núñez Fernández. Rita married Blas de la Rosa and had seven children including José Dolores Rosa Núñez. Virginia Núñez married her nephew José Dolores Rosa Núñez in 1866 and had ten children.
Félix Núñez Fernández married Clara Tavarez Tineo, the daughter of José Tavares and BaltazaraTineo, and had Joaquín, Juan José, Escolástica, Altagracia, and Eleonora Núñez Tavarez.
Altagracia Núñez Tavarez married Juan Bautista Payán Alonso in 1880. They had Bruno, Juan Baudilio, Jose Joaquin, Francisco, and Maria Fresvinda Payan Núñez.
Eleonora (Leonora) Núñez Tavarez married Pedro Bidó Tavarez, her cousin, in 1877. They had Andrea Avelina, Domingo Antonio, María Mercedes, Juan de la Cruz, and Manuel Mercedes Bidó Núñez.
Joaquín Núñez Tavarez married Juliana (Julia) Payán Alonso in 1872. They had Juan Pedro, Tomás de Jesús, María Justiniana, Julia, Lucía, Antonio, Ramón Emilio, and Isabel María Núñez Payan.
Juan José Núñez Tavarez married Rafaela Fabián. They had María Petronila, María Altagracia, María Engracia, Manuel de Jesús, and María Ignacia Núñez Fabián.
Escolástica Núñez Tavarez married Secundino Plasencia Pérez in 1874. They had María Florencia, María Mercedes, Fidel Antonio, Josefina, Macedonia, Emilia, Eufemio Nicolás, Rafael de Jesús, and Maxinea Plasencia Núñez.
María Justinana Núñez Payán, the daughter of Joaquín Núñez and Juliana Payán, married José Eugenio Núñez Fernández in 1895. His family connects to the Núñez of Angostura. Julian Núñez is descended from María Justinana.
Going as Cirilo Núñez with his second wife Candelaria Payán, the couple had: José Ramón, Juan, Laureano, Manuel de Paula, and Carmen Núñez Payán.
José Ramón Núñez Payán married María Sinencia Castro Núñez. They had Manuel Ramón, Santiago, Eleonora, Leocadia, Manuel Ramon, and Lucas Castro Núñez.
Juan Núñez Payán died on November 30, 1909 in La Noriega at 60 years old.
Laureano Núñez Payán married Isabel Mata García. They had María de la Cruz, Francisca de Jesús, Manuel María, María Josefa, Amadeo, Miguel Andrés, Pedro Tomás, Natividad, María Adelina, and Pedro María Núñez Mata.
The Núñez Rodriguez of San José de las Matas
The origin of the Núñez Rodríguez begins with José Núñez and María de Mercedes Rodríguez Villafaña. José Núñez was born possibly in Santiago circa 1790. They had: Manuel, Ignacia, Juana, José, Isabel, and Germán Núñez Rodriguez (1815-1892).
Germán Núñez Rodriguez married Ana María Torres. They had: Josefa (1837-), Juan de Mata (1839-), Antonia (1840-), Santiago (1844-1845), Eleuterio (1848-1927), María Mercedes (1849-), José Miguel (1851-), Pedro (1857-), and Ramón Núñez Torres (c. 1858-).
Ramon Núñez Torres married María Mercedes Adames in San José de las Matas in 1879. They had Rosalía (1879-), María Altagracia (1882-), Juan Bautista (1884-), Julio (1886-), Eliseo (1888-), Saturnina de Jesús (1890-), Ramón Emilio (1893-), and María Josefa Núñez Torres (1895-).
A genealogical DNA test has not been completed with descendants from this family.
The Núñez Genao of Lopez
The origin of the Núñez Genao begins with Ramón Núñez (c. 1840-bef. 1916) and María Aniceta Genao (c. 1844-1916). Ramón was born possibly in López, Santiago. His parents are unknown. Aniceta’s father was Juan Genao, possibly from the same region. Ramón and Aniceta married in the 1860s in Santiago.
They had: María Mercedes (1863-), José Ramon (1865-?), Maria de Jesús (1868-1916), Ana Josefa Emilia (1871-), María Silvana (1874-), Juan Cistino (1875-), Miguel Ventura (1878-), Juana Francisca (1878-), Francisca María (c. 1885-), and Alfredo Pedro de la Caridad Núñez Genao (1888-).
María Mercedes Núñez Genao married Ramón María Gonzalez. They had Teodoro de Jesús (1890-), Albertina del Carmen (1896-), and Francisco Antonio (1898-).
José Ramón Núñez Genao married Amelia Marte. They had Pedro María (1892-), José Virgilio (1893-), Ereminda (1895-), and María Guadalupe Núñez Marte (1897-).
María de Jesús Núñez Genao married Juan Blas Genao circa 1880s. Their children are unknown.
María Silvana Núñez Genao married Estevan Gutiérrez in 1910. Their children are unknown.
Francisca María Núñez Genao married Isidoro Fernández Núñez, the son of Antonio de los Santos Fernández Tineo and Ana Josefa Núñez Fernández of the Núñez of Angostura, in 1903. They had at least one son, Pedro Antonio Fernández Núñez of López, Santiago.
Other marital information for their siblings is currently unavailable.
A genealogical DNA test has not been completed with descendants from this family.
Citation
Shafi, Noel and Núñez, Julian. (2020, July). History of Núñez Families from Santiago, Dominican Republic. Blog. https://sites.google.com/site/noelshafi/blog
References
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Instituto Dominicano de Genealogia (2020). Cápsulas Genealógicas. Retrieved from http://www.idg.org.do/
Núñez, Julian (2020). Nunez-Torres Family Tree. Retrieved from
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Shafi, Noel (2020). History of the Nunez, Perez, and Franco Families of Baitoa. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.