South Africa, Settlers Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

South Africa

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains an index to settlers of South Africa along with an index to vital records from 1732-1950. Most of the records are for families of British setttlers that went to South Africa in 1820 and their descendants.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth
 * Bithdate
 * Birthplace
 * Race of child
 * Mother's name
 * Father's name

Marriage
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Names of bride's parents
 * Names of groom's parets
 * Bride's surname
 * Bride's age
 * Bride's race
 * Groom's surname
 * Groom's age
 * Groom's race

Death
 * Date and place of death
 * Spouse's name (if married)
 * Birthdate of the deceased
 * Birthplace of the deceased
 * Deceased's parent's names
 * Children's names (if any)

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

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.

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
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by searching the South Africa Vital Records Index
 * 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
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

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

 * Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, either Civil Registration records or Church 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
 * Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * 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
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
 * 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
 * There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another
 * Be aware that there may have been some transcription errors

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.