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South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive) - FamilySearch Historical Records

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South Africa

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South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records, Stellenbosch Archive 1660-2011
CID1392488
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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: Stellenbosch Archive
Collection years: 1660-2011
Languages: Afrikaans, Dutch, English
Title in the Language: Zuid-Afrika, Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerk Records
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Dutch Reformed Church Archives, 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 1660 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.

General Information About these Records

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.

Reading these Records

These records are in Afrikaans and English. For help reading these records see the following guides:

To Browse this Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records, Stellenbosch Archive 1660-2011.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Birth Records

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

Church Meeting Minutes

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

Marriage Records

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

Collection Content

Sample Images

  • South Africa,Dutch Reformed Church Records, Stellenbosch Archive DGS 005378461 35.jpg

    Birth Record

  • South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records, Stellenbosch Archive DGS 005128783 4.jpg

    Church Meeting Minutes

  • South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records, Stellenbosch Archive 005362893 18.jpg

    Marriage Record

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?

You can search the index or view the images or both. Before using 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

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page

  1. Select Country
  2. Select Province
  3. Select Municipality or Town or Province
  4. Select Record Type, Years and Alphabetical Section to view the images

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?

  • Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify
  • Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records indexes in the country
  • When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors

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

  • Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, Civil Registration records may be more useful
  • While searching, it is helpful to know such information as the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
  • Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation
  • Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies
  • Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800's
  • There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another
  • Be aware that there may have been some transcription errors

Known Issues with This Collection

For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to support@familysearch.org. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

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

"South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive), 1690-2011 ." Database and images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : Citing Genealogiese Instituut van Suid-Afrika (Genealogical Institute of South Africa), Stellenbosch.

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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