To Lucy Marrero, I am also a descendent of puerto rican ancestors my greatgrandmother's name is celestina Daisy Gomez. You said, Carmen's name is Carmen Miranda Otero. Thus, in spanish culture the fathers surname is in the middle, the mothers surname would be at the end, which would be Carmen's surname. Thus, Carmen's name would be Carmen Roman Otero or Carmen Miranda Roman Otero. Otero would be her mother surname and Mirando Roman would be her father's surname. If they were portuguese living in puerto Rico then Carmen would have her father's surname which would be Miranda Roman. Thus, Carmen's name would be Carmen Miranda Roman. Because the portuguese carry the father's last name. Many Puerto Ricans immigrated to America to New York City when Puerto Rico became part of the United States starting in 1917 and onward when they aboarded the ships the officers personal was signing their names, so you have to play around with the otero spelling they could have spelled it otera. go to www. ellisisland.org for the passengers list it is a free site you have to fill out the application on the site and make up your secret code that they ask you to do on the application. The ships manifest on ellis island before 1917 ask the passengers their address of the relatives that they were living with if your relative had the ships personnel fill out that question then at least you have an area you can work with. During the spanish American war some of our ancestors went to the Domincan Republic to avoid the war. Also, when coming to America some went to Ports in Cuba to board ships coming to America. Now, if they were Dark puerto Ricans a lot of them were living in Ponce, Puerto Rico, although they were living in other towns as well. A black puerto Rican is going to tell you more information especially an older male in his seventies, a lot of mullattoes puerto Ricans will only talk about how much conquistadores, that is only mention a white spanish or white european ancestor or how much Taino blood they have an leave africa out. Now some black puerto ricans do the same thing. But, if you find a good black puerto Rican older male from puerto Rican they have a wealth of information and have a knowledege of the provinces. and I know such a person, so if you have any questions post me and I will ask my puerto Rican elder friend. I also am searching for my greatgrandmother's relatives. Oh I forgot to tell you; some Puerto Ricans were living with Aunts and Uncles when they were young babies and grew up calling them their mothers and fathers there was a lot of that going on even when they lived with their grandmothers.