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{{Record_Search_article|CID=CID1392488|title=South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991|location=South Africa|scheduled=}}
'''[[South Africa Genealogy|South Africa]]'''
{{South Africa HR Infobox
| CID = CID1392488  
| title = South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011
| location = South Africa  
| LOC_01 =
| LOC_02 =
| loc_map =
| record_type = Church
| start_year = 1690
| end_year = 2011
| language = Afrikaans, Dutch, English
| title_language = Zuid-Afrika, Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerk Records
| FS_URL_01 = [[South Africa Record Finder]]
| FS_URL_02 = [[South Africa Finding Town of Origin]]
| FS_URL_03 = [[South Africa Online Genealogy Records]]
| FS_URL_04 = [[South Africa Vital Records]]
| FS_URL_05 = [[South Africa Church Records]]
| FS_URL_06 = [[South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
| FS_URL_07 =
| FS_URL_08 =
| FS_URL_09 =
| FS_URL_10 =
| RW_URL_01 = [http://sagenealogy.co.za/ South African Genealogy]
| RW_URL_02 = [https://www.cyndislist.com/south-africa/ Cyndi's List - South Africa]
| RW_URL_03 = [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/search?locationId=country_64&orderby=memorials&page=1#cem-2306728 Find a Grave - South Africa]
| RW_URL_04 = [http://genealogyintime.com/records/Africa-genealogy-records.html GenealogyInTime Magazine]
| RW_URL_05 = [http://www.e-family.co.za/cdni/cdni_index.htm Cape Master Death Notice Index]
| RW_URL_06 = [http://www.eggsa.org/librarySearch/searchGraves.htm Genealogical Society of SA - Graves]
| RW_URL_07 = [http://www.genza.org.za/biblio/main.php Genealogical Society of SA - Funeral Programs]
| RW_URL_08 =
| RW_URL_09 =
| RW_URL_10 =
| custodian = [https://www.kerkargief.co.za/ Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika], Genealogiese Instituut van Suid-Afrika, Stellenbosch
}}
== What is in This Collection? ==
The collection includes images of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, and memberships of the Dutch Reformed Church (Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk In Afrika) for the years 1690 to 2011. The records are housed at the Genealogical Institute of South Africa (Genealogiese Instituut van Suid-Afrika) Archive at Stellenbosch, South Africa. Communities from the entire country of South Africa are represented. Includes records from the current African nations of Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This collection is being published as images become available.


{{Contributor invite}}
The Dutch Reform Church records have been maintained in good condition. Records are found in different registration formats. The baptism and marriage records are recorded in bound registers, which are kept at the local churches' archives in care of the registrars. Since 1928 the registrar sends the registries to be archived at the Central Archive of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town, South Africa.


== Collection Time Period&nbsp;  ==
When South Africa was settled by the Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries, they transplanted their Dutch Reformed theology into the African continent. The Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa was formally established in 1652, and became the only official church in South Africa until 1778, when freedom of public worship was given to other churches. The history of the Dutch Reform Church has been very much bound up with the politics of the Afrikaner community of South Africa.


The collection of records covers the years 1660 to 1970.
Reformed Church in South Africa consists of three separate churches: the Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk (the largest and usually called the Dutch Reform Church; the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (largely restricted to the Transvaal); and the Gereformeede Kerk in Suid Afrika (the Doppers). During the 17th and 18th Centuries the Dutch Reform Church (Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk) was the only officially recognized Church denomination in South Africa and practically all the whites in the Cape belonged to it. In the following centuries, several other church denominations were created in Cape, leaving a decline in the membership of the Dutch Reformed Church.  
 
{{HR Add}}
== Record History&nbsp;  ==
=== Index and Image Visibility ===
 
{{Image Visibility}}
When South Africa was settled by the Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries they transplanted their Dutch Reformed theology into the African continent. The Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa was formally established in 1652, and became the only official church in South Africa until 1778, when freedom of public worship was given to other churches. The history of the Dutch Reform Church has been very much bound up with the politics of the Afrikaner community of South Africa. The baptism and marriage records are recorded in bound registers, which are kept at the local churches archive in care of the registrar. Since 1928 the registrar sends the registries to be archived at the Central Archive of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town, South Africa.
=== Reading these Records ===
 
These records are in Afrikaans and English. For help reading them see:
The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa consists of three separate churches: the Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk (the largest and usually called the Dutch Reform Church; the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (largely restricted to the Transvaal); and the Gereformeede Kerk in Suid Afrika (the Doppers). During the 17th and 18th Centuries the Dutch Reform Church (Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk) was the only officially recognized Church denomination in South Africa and practically all the whites in the Cape belonged to it. In the following Centuries, several other churches denominations were created in Cape, leaving a decline in the membership of the Dutch Reform Church.  
*[[Afrikaans Word List]]
 
*[[Netherlands Language and Languages]]
=== Why This Record Was Created&nbsp;  ===
*[[South Africa Language and Languages]]
 
== What Can These Records Tell Me? ==
Registers were created to track the church’s members by recording the vital events of christening or baptism (which occurred soon after the child was born), marriage, and memberships.
The following information may be found in these records:
 
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
=== Record Reliability&nbsp;  ===
{{col-break}}
 
'''Birth'''
The records are usually very reliable since they were recorded by the minister usually when the event happened.  
*Name
 
*Date of birth
== Record Description&nbsp;  ==
*Date of baptism
 
*Names of parents
The Dutch Reform Church records have been maintained in good conditions. Baptisms and marriages are found in different registration formats, most written in Dutch and others in Afrikaans, Dutch and English. Deaths records are not found among these registers.  
*Names of baptismal witnesses
 
{{col-break}}
<gallery perrow="3" heights="120px" widths="160px" caption="South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Record Examples">
'''Marriage'''
Image:South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Records Birth DGS 4434390_171.jpg
*Names
Image:South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Records Marriage DGS 4322664_786.jpg
*Date of marriage
*Ages
*Marital status
*Occupation
*Residence
*Names of those giving consent
*Names of witnesses
*Race
*Names of parents
{{col-break}}
'''Church Meeting Minutes'''
*Name
*Date of baptism
*Membership status
*Name of mission
*Remarks may include marital status or other relative information
{{col-end}}
== Collection Content ==
For additional details about these records and help using them see [[South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]].
=== Sample Images ===
<gallery ="widths="160px" heights="120px" perrow="4">
Image:South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Birth 1848 DGS 5378461 imag 35.jpg|Birth Record 1848
Image:South Africa Dutch Reformed Church 1907 Minutes DGS 5128783 image 4.jpg|Church Meeting Minutes 1907
Image:South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records, Stellenbosch Archive 005362893 00018.jpg|Marriage Record 1892
</gallery>
</gallery>
=== Record Content&nbsp; ===
=== Coverage Table ===
 
The collection includes records from the following countries and provinces in Southern Africa:
'''The key genealogical facts found in most baptismal records are:'''  
{| style="width:60%; vertical-align:top;"|                 
 
|-                 
• Name of principal
|style=" vertical-align:top; width:20%;"|
 
{| border="1" class="wikitable sortable"
• Date of birth
|-
 
! align="center" style="background: rgb(240,240,240)" scope="col" | '''Country
• Date of baptism
! align="center" style="background: rgb(240,240,240)" scope="col" | '''Province
 
! align="center" style="background: rgb(240,240,240)" scope="col" | '''Municipality
• Father and mother’s names and sometimes their address
! align="center" style="background: rgb(240,240,240)" scope="col" | '''Record Type
 
|-
• Complete witness’s names and sometimes their address
|'''Botswana
 
|Malepolole
• Registration place
|Mokgopeetsane
 
|Baptism
<br>
|-
 
|
'''The key genealogical facts found in most marriages records are:'''  
|
 
|
• Names of groom and bride
|Marriage
 
|-
• Date of marriage
|
 
|
• Age at time of marriage
|
 
|Membership
• Country of birth
|-
 
|'''Malawi
• Civil status at time of marriage
|Nyasaland
 
|Nyasaland
• Occupation
| Membership
 
|-
• Residence at time of marriage
|'''Namibia
 
|Warmbad
• Race
|Karasburg
 
| Marriage
• Place of marriage
|-
 
|'''South Africa
<br>
|Cape
 
|''Multiple
== How to Use the Record&nbsp;  ==
|''Various
 
|-
Begin your search by finding your ancestors in the index. Name indexes make it possible to access a specific record quickly. Remember that these indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.
|
 
|Free State
Use the locator information found in the index (such as page, entry, or certificate number) to locate your ancestors in the records. Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.  
|''Multiple
 
|''Various
When you have located your ancestor’s in the records, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:
|-
 
|
• Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.
|Transavaal
 
|''Multiple
• Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names. • Occupations listed can lead you to employment records or other types of records such as military records.
|''Various
 
|-
• Use the parent’s birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
|'''Zambia
 
|Lusaka
• Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the child being baptized, the bride or the groom, this is especially helpful if the surname is unusual.
|Lusaka
 
|Baptism
• Continue to search the marriage records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the bride and groom who may have married in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
|-
 
|
• When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
|
 
|
<br>
|Marriage
 
|-
Keep in mind:
|
 
|
• Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1900.
|
 
|Membership
• There is also some variation in the information given from one marriage record to another record.
|-
 
|
<br>
|Lusaka East
 
|Lusaka East
=== How Has This Article Helped You?&nbsp;  ===
|Marriage
 
|-
[[FamilySearch Collection Feedback|Send us your story.]]
|'''Zimbabwe
 
|Mashonaland
<br>
|NG Kerk
 
|Baptism
== Related Web Sites&nbsp;  ==
|-
 
|
[http://southafricanfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/2006/08/04/genealogical-institute-of-south-africa/ Genealogical Institute of South Africa]
|
 
|
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.
|Marriage
 
|-
== Related Wiki Articles&nbsp;  ==
|
 
|
[[South Africa Websites|South Africa Websites]]  
|
 
|Membership
[[South Africa Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)|South Africa Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]  
|-
 
|
[[South Africa, Cape Province Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)|South Africa, Cape Province Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
|Umtali
 
|Umtali
[[Portal:South Africa/Research Tools|Portal:South Africa/Research Tools]]
|Marriage
 
|-
[[Portal:South Africa/Jurisdictions|Portal:South Africa/Jurisdictions]]  
|}
 
== How Do I Search This Collection? ==
<br>
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 
*Name of the person you are looking for
== Sources of This Collection  ==
*Approximate date of the event (birth, baptism, marriage, etc.)
 
=== Search the Index ===
“South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991,” database, FamilySearch Historical Records, 2010; from Genealogical Institute of South Africa. “Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991.” Genealogical Institute of South Africa, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa. FHL microfilm, 52 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
{{Search Collection Link | CID=CID1392488 }}
 
=== How Do I Analyze the Results? ===
<br>
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a [[Use_Appropriate_Forms#Prepare_a_Research_Log |research log]].
 
== What Do I Do Next? ==
=== <br>How to Cite FamilySearch Historical Collections&nbsp;  ===
=== I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now? ===
 
*Add any new information to your records
==== Why Should You Cite Your Sources?&nbsp;  ====
*If available, check the image for additional information
 
*Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
It is recommended that you cite the sources of information as you search genealogical records. Citing sources will allow you to avoid duplicate searches later and share your sources with other researchers. A citation with specific details about the source document should allow yourself or others to easily find the source document at a later time. You should cite all sources searched, whether new information is found, to avoid duplicating searches without findings.  
=== I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now? ===
 
*The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
<br>
*Try searching by surname only
 
*Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century
==== Sample Citations  ====
=== Research Helps ===
 
The following articles will help you research your family in [[South Africa Genealogy|South Africa]].
[[How to Cite FamilySearch Collections|''More information about citing or documenting your sources'']]''can be found at:'' How to Cite FamilySearch Collections
*[[South Africa Record Finder]]
*[[South Africa Finding Town of Origin]]
== Known Issues ==
{{HR KI}}
== Citing This Collection ==
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
{{Collection citation}}
{{Record_Citation}}
{{Image_Citation}}
[[pt:África do Sul, Registros da Igreja Reformada Holandesa, Arquivo de Stellenbosch (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)]]

Latest revision as of 18:02, 13 March 2024

South Africa

Access the Records
South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011
CID1392488
{{{CID2}}}
{{{CID3}}}
{{{CID4}}}
{{{CID5}}}
{{{CID6}}}
{{{CID7}}}
{{{CID8}}}
{{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
South Africa
800px-Flag of South Africa.svg.png
Flag of South Africa
South Africa locator map.jpg
Location of South Africa
Record Description
Record Type: Church
Collection years: 1690-2011
Languages: Afrikaans, Dutch, English
Title in the Language: Zuid-Afrika, Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerk Records
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika, Genealogiese Instituut van Suid-Afrika, Stellenbosch


What is in This Collection?

The collection includes images of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, and memberships of the Dutch Reformed Church (Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk In Afrika) for the years 1690 to 2011. The records are housed at the Genealogical Institute of South Africa (Genealogiese Instituut van Suid-Afrika) Archive at Stellenbosch, South Africa. Communities from the entire country of South Africa are represented. Includes records from the current African nations of Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This collection is being published as images become available.

The Dutch Reform Church records have been maintained in good condition. Records are found in different registration formats. The baptism and marriage records are recorded in bound registers, which are kept at the local churches' archives in care of the registrars. Since 1928 the registrar sends the registries to be archived at the Central Archive of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town, South Africa.

When South Africa was settled by the Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries, they transplanted their Dutch Reformed theology into the African continent. The Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa was formally established in 1652, and became the only official church in South Africa until 1778, when freedom of public worship was given to other churches. The history of the Dutch Reform Church has been very much bound up with the politics of the Afrikaner community of South Africa.

Reformed Church in South Africa consists of three separate churches: the Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk (the largest and usually called the Dutch Reform Church; the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (largely restricted to the Transvaal); and the Gereformeede Kerk in Suid Afrika (the Doppers). During the 17th and 18th Centuries the Dutch Reform Church (Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk) was the only officially recognized Church denomination in South Africa and practically all the whites in the Cape belonged to it. In the following centuries, several other church denominations were created in Cape, leaving a decline in the membership of the Dutch Reformed Church. Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

Reading these Records

These records are in Afrikaans and English. For help reading them see:

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Birth

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Date of baptism
  • Names of parents
  • Names of baptismal witnesses

Marriage

  • Names
  • Date of marriage
  • Ages
  • Marital status
  • Occupation
  • Residence
  • Names of those giving consent
  • Names of witnesses
  • Race
  • Names of parents

Church Meeting Minutes

  • Name
  • Date of baptism
  • Membership status
  • Name of mission
  • Remarks may include marital status or other relative information

Collection Content

For additional details about these records and help using them see South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records.

Sample Images

  • Birth Record 1848

    Birth Record 1848

  • Church Meeting Minutes 1907

    Church Meeting Minutes 1907

  • Marriage Record 1892

    Marriage Record 1892

Coverage Table

The collection includes records from the following countries and provinces in Southern Africa:

Country Province Municipality Record Type
Botswana Malepolole Mokgopeetsane Baptism
Marriage
Membership
Malawi Nyasaland Nyasaland Membership
Namibia Warmbad Karasburg Marriage
South Africa Cape Multiple Various
Free State Multiple Various
Transavaal Multiple Various
Zambia Lusaka Lusaka Baptism
Marriage
Membership
Lusaka East Lusaka East Marriage
Zimbabwe Mashonaland NG Kerk Baptism
Marriage
Membership
Umtali Umtali Marriage

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • Name of the person you are looking for
  • Approximate date of the event (birth, baptism, marriage, etc.)

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • If available, check the image for additional information
  • Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

  • The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
  • Try searching by surname only
  • Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in South Africa.

Known Issues

Click here for a list of known issues with this collection.

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.
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