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.
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). Married in 1668 in Cape Town, they later farmed for a living in Hout Bay and eventually retired to Drakenstein. Many if not most of the people below, which include 15 rugby players, are their descendants.
Abraham van der Merwe (1897-1978), pastor, one the main leaders of the South-African Dutch Reformed Church between 1945 and 1966Akker van der Merwe (born 1991), South African rugby playerAlan van der Merwe (born 1980), South African racerAlbert van der Merwe (born 1981), South African-born Irish cricketerAlwyn Van der Merwe (born 1927), South African physicistAndré Carl van der Merwe (born 1961), South African novelistAndré van der Merwe (born 1967), South African urologistAndré van der Merwe, South African choir conductorAndries van der Merwe (born 1994), South African sprinterAndries van der Merwe (born 1981), South African Electrician (Electrical Experts)Bertus van der Merwe (1929–1971), South African rugby playerCecile van der Merwe (born 1987), South African chess playerCornelis van der Merwe (1921–1985), South African government ministerD. T. H. van der Merwe (born 1986), South African-born Canadian rugby playerDanie van der Merwe (born 1989), South African rugby playerElizabeth Van Der Merwe born 2005 south Africa in school
Edward van der Merwe (1903–1971), South African cricketerFanie van der Merwe (born 1986), South African paralympic athleteFlip van der Merwe (born 1985), South African rugby playerFranco van der Merwe (born 1983), South African rugby playerFrançois van der Merwe (born 1983), South African rugby playerFrederick Ziervogel van der Merwe (1894–1968), South african physician and botanistFrith van der Merwe (born 1964), South African long-distance athleteGert van der Merwe, South African paralympic athleteHeinke van der Merwe (born 1985), South African rugby playerHendrik W. (H.W.) van der Merwe (1929–2001), South African lecturerIzak van der Merwe (born 1984), South African tennis playerJaap van de Merwe (1924–1989), Dutch cabaretier and lyricistJaco van der Merwe (born 1970) South African Amateur golfer and psychologistJaco van der Merwe (1982), Insurance professional and businessman
Jan van der Merwe (born 1983), South African sprinterJan van der Merwe (born 1995), South African rugby union playerJan H van der Merwe (1922-2016), South African physicistJohanna van der Merwe (1825–1888), prominent female voortrekkerJohannes van der Merwe (born 1980), Namibian cricketerKirby van der Merwe (born 1949), South African writerLourens van der Merwe, South African rugby refereeLowaldo van der Merwe (born 1986), Namibian cricketerMarcel van der Merwe (born 1990), South African rugby playerMarina van der Merwe, South African-born Canadian field hockey coachMarissa van der Merwe (born 1978), South African cyclistMarlice van der Merwe (now Marlice van Vuuren, born 1976), Namibian conservationistMorné van der Merwe (1973–2013), South African rugby playerMusetta van der Merwe (known as Musetta Vander, born 1963), South African actress and modelPeter van der Merwe, South African musicologistPeter van der Merwe (1937–2013), South African cricketerPeter van de Merwe (1942-2016), Dutch football goalkeeperPieter van der Merwe, maritime historianRoelof van der Merwe (born 1984), South African cricketerRyno van der Merwe (born 1979), South African rugby playerSarel van der Merwe (born 1946), South African rally car driverSchalk van der Merwe (1922–1984), South African surgeonSchalk van der Merwe (born 1961), South African tennis playerSchalk van der Merwe (1990–), South African rugby playerSenan van der Merwe (born 1986), South African rugby playerSonja van der Merwe (born 1992), South African sprinterStoffel van der Merwe (born 1939), South African diplomat and politicianStrijdom van der Merwe (born 1961), South African artistYulandi van der Merwe (born 1977), South African cricketerWikus van de Merwe, fictional protagonist of the film District 9.'Van der Merwe' is the butt of many South African jokes.
