Question and translation needed for marriage record of Cristóbal de Santoyo alias Pérez, "mestiso soltero i criollo?"

Published by Travis –

Hello and Happy New Year!

I have a question: when someone is called "criollo" in colonial records it usually implies they are born in Mexico from two Spanish parents, correct?

Is this a hard rule? Why would someone be called both mestizo and criollo in the same record? Because he is the son of one parent who was born in Spain, perhaps?

Cristóbal de Santoyo alias Pérez, "mestiso soltero i criollo," probable, but unproven, son of Juan de Santoyo alias Pérez (possibly Spanish) and Antonia de Villegas alias Mendoza (noted as mestiza in multiple sources), both of Lagos. Cristóbal de Santoyo alias Pérez married June 1, 1668 to Ana Burgeño, daughter of Ysidro de Araujo and Beatris Burgeño alias López, in Santa Maria de los Lagos.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-G5RG-Y

My Spanish isn't proficient enough to understand the entire record - especially the notation in the margin. Would someone please look at it and translate or explain the record for me. This could be a game-changer for our tree. Cristobal's probable parents are our ancestors several times over - we are descended from many of the grandchildren of Juan de Santoyo alias Pérez and Antonia de Villegas alias Mendoza.

Thank you,

Travis

Published by mralvarez314 – Thu, 2026-01-08 16:13 | Permalink

Comment

"...mestiso soltero i criollo de esta villa..."

In this instance, as well as in the other records on the same page, the writer used the word criollo to mean originario (autóctono o nativo de esta villa de Lagos), and not in the usual sense related to the castas colonial that one typically sees in these records.

Comment

Thank you very much for the explanation. I'm a novice to colonial genealogy, and the learning curve is steep. Very appreciative of the assist.

Best,

Travis

Published by familias_bajio – Sun, 2026-01-11 19:32 | Permalink

Comment

I have only seen the term 'criollo' used to mean place of birth or origin and not used to signify caste. Of the records that include the term 'criollo' for a person it will also include the person's caste (español, mestizo, indio, mulato.

Saludos,

Austin Pérez

Comment

Thanks for providing more info on this for me. I'm new to colonial genealogy and appreciate the feedback and assistance. 

Gracias!

Travis 

Genealogy Research