Van der Merwe is a common Afrikaans surname, derived from the Dutch van der Merwen ("from the Merwede"). It was brought to South Africa in 1661 by Dutch people employed by the Dutch East India Company.[1]

The progenitors of the extended family are Willem Schalk van der Merwe (born in "Broeck", probably Broek, Utrecht near the Merwede) and Elsje Cloete (born Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia).[2] Married in 1668 in Cape Town, they later farmed for a living in Hout Bay and eventually retired to Drakenstein.[3] Many if not most of the people below, who include 16 rugby players, are their descendants.

People

Characters in fiction

  • Wikus van de Merwe, protagonist of the film District 9

See also

References

  1. "Willem Schalkz van der Merwe, SV/PROG". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  2. "First Fifty Years - a project collating Cape of Good Hope records - Willem Schalks van der Merwe". www.e-family.co.za. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  3. "Willem Schalks van der Merwe (died 12 July 1716)". www.ballfamilyrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
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