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Archiver > GEN-BENELUX > 1996-06 > 0835817264


From: Martin Vlietstra <>
Subject: Re: VAN NIEKERK
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 20:27:44 +0100
References: <31CE5598.1221@chariot.co.za>


May I suggest a little caution abour reading too much into Afrikaans
surnames. During the 18th century the concept of surnames was slowly
taking hold in the Netherlands. One of my ancestors, born in Kampen in
1707 had his surname (Sellers) in brackets after his christian name.
Other ancestors, partiuclarly from Friesland did not take on surnams
until ordered to do so by Napoleon in 1808.

Since the dutch settlement of South Africa was taking place during this
time, I suspect that many immigrant families took on surnames upon
arrival in the Cape. As Joe is probably aware, van der Westhuizen is a
common South African name - I believe that it might be aa corruption of
"van der weeshuis" or "from the orphanage".

In article <>, Joe van Niekerk
<> writes
>Greetings All,
>
>Here in South Africa we have a proliferation of VAN NIEKERKs ( of which
>I am one ! ), does anyone have an idea of which general area in the
>Netherlands, Belgium the VAN NIEKERKs come from ?
>
>Regards
>
>joe van niekerk

--
Martin Vlietstra

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