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van Heerden is a common Afrikaans surname. Although most van Heerdens are South African nationals, a number are also resident in Australia, Namibia, and the United Kingdom. The clan has been prominently represented in every South African conflict - from the First Boer War to the Angolan bush war - and a number have served as distinguished scientists, authors, and statesmen.
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Family history
The family proginater, Pieter Willemsz van Heerden, was born 10 December 1677 in the town Heerde in Gelderland, a province in the Netherlands. Unfortunately it is not possible to trace him or his ancestors in the Netherlands as the baptism records during the 17th century only reflected the name of the child and first name of the father. He arrived during 1701 in Cape Town. He was 20 years old and was employed as a soldier in the service of the Dutch East Indies Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC). He served his time with the company and became a Vryburger (Free Citizen). Pieter Willemsz quickly became Pieter Willem as he is referred to in all the documents of the time.
Pieter Willem settled on the farm Weltevreden, one of the first farmers In ’T Land van Waveren, Tulbagh. He lived there until his death in 1763, aged 86. On 18 September 1708, Pieter Willem married 17-year-old Magtilt van der Merwe, the daughter of Willem Schalkzoon van der Merwe and Elsie Cloete.
Pieter and Elsie had five sons: Willem (born c1709 – died 1769), Hendrik (born c1712 – died young), Jacob (born c 1715 – died young), Jacob (born c 1721 – died 1749), Petrus Johannes (born c1727 – died young). Jacob (c1721) married Anna Jordaan and only had one daughter when he died. The eldest son Willem (c1709) married Martha van der Merwe and they had nine sons and three daughters. They form the nine branches of the van Heerden family in South Africa. All the van Heerdens can trace their roots back to one of the nine sons.