Van der Merwe
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 clan are Willem Schalk van der Merwe (born in "Broeck", probably Broek, South Holland 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, which include 15 rugby players, are their descendants.
People
- Abraham van der Merwe (1897-1978), pastor, one the main leaders of the South-African Dutch Reformed Church between 1945 and 1966
- Akker van der Merwe (born 1991), South African rugby player
- Alan van der Merwe (born 1980), South African racer
- Albert van der Merwe (born 1981), South African-born Irish cricketer
- Alwyn Van der Merwe (born 1927), South African physicist
- André Carl van der Merwe (born 1961), South African novelist
- André van der Merwe (born 1967), South African urologist
- André van der Merwe, South African choir conductor
- Andries van der Merwe (born 1994), South African sprinter
- Andries van der Merwe (born 1981), South African Electrician (Electrical Experts)
- Bertus van der Merwe (1929–1971), South African rugby player
- Cecile van der Merwe (born 1987), South African chess player
- Cornelis van der Merwe (1921–1985), South African government minister
- D. T. H. van der Merwe (born 1986), South African-born Canadian rugby player
- Danie van der Merwe (born 1989), South African rugby player
- Edward van der Merwe (1903–1971), South African cricketer
- Fanie van der Merwe (born 1986), South African paralympic athlete
- Flip van der Merwe (born 1985), South African rugby player
- Franco van der Merwe (born 1983), South African rugby player
- François van der Merwe (born 1983), South African rugby player
- Frederick Ziervogel van der Merwe (1894–1968), South african physician and botanist
- Frith van der Merwe (born 1964), South African long-distance athlete
- Gert van der Merwe, South African paralympic athlete
- Heinke van der Merwe (born 1985), South African rugby player
- Hendrik W. (H.W.) van der Merwe (1929–2001), South African lecturer
- Izak van der Merwe (born 1984), South African tennis player
- Jaap van de Merwe (1924–1989), Dutch cabaretier and lyricist
- Jaco van der Merwe (born 1970) South African Amateur golfer and psychologist
Jaco van der Merwe (1982), Insurance professional and businessman
- Jan van der Merwe (born 1983), South African sprinter
- Jan van der Merwe (born 1995), South African rugby union player
- Jan H van der Merwe (1922-2016), South African physicist
- Johanna van der Merwe (1825–1888), prominent female voortrekker
- Johannes van der Merwe (born 1980), Namibian cricketer
- Kirby van der Merwe (born 1949), South African writer
- Lourens van der Merwe, South African rugby referee
- Lowaldo van der Merwe (born 1986), Namibian cricketer
- Marcel van der Merwe (born 1990), South African rugby player
- Marina van der Merwe, South African-born Canadian field hockey coach
- Marissa van der Merwe (born 1978), South African cyclist
- Marlice van der Merwe (now Marlice van Vuuren, born 1976), Namibian conservationist
- Morné van der Merwe (1973–2013), South African rugby player
- Musetta van der Merwe (known as Musetta Vander, born 1963), South African actress and model
- Peter van der Merwe, South African musicologist
- Peter van der Merwe (1937–2013), South African cricketer
- Peter van der Merwe (1942-2016), Dutch football goalkeeper
- Pieter van der Merwe, maritime historian
- Roelof van der Merwe (born 1984), South African cricketer
- Ryno van der Merwe (born 1979), South African rugby player
- Sarel van der Merwe (born 1946), South African rally car driver
- Schalk van der Merwe (1922–1984), South African surgeon
- Schalk van der Merwe (born 1961), South African tennis player
- Schalk van der Merwe (1990–), South African rugby player
- Senan van der Merwe (born 1986), South African rugby player
- Sonja van der Merwe (born 1992), South African sprinter
- Stoffel van der Merwe (born 1939), South African diplomat and politician
- Strijdom van der Merwe (born 1961), South African artist
- Yulandi van der Merwe (born 1977), South African cricketer
Characters in fiction
- Wikus van de Merwe, fictional protagonist of the film District 9.
Use in jokes
'Van der Merwe' is the butt of many South African jokes.[4]