South Africa, Cape Province, Cemetery Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains cemetery records from the Cape Province in South Africa from 1886 to 2010.

Reading These Records
These records are written in English and Afrikaans. For help reading these records see the following:
 * Afrikaans Word List
 * Netherlands Language and Languages
 * South Africa Language and Languages

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


 * Name of the deceased
 * Date of death
 * Age
 * Place of burial


 * Gender
 * Last residence
 * Marital status
 * Religion
 * Next of kin

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before using this collection it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person you are looking for
 * Approximate date of death

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 Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use birth information and names of parents, if identified, that would help you find birth records.
 * Use spouse's name, if identified, to find a marriage record.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same area.
 * Use the death or burial date to find other records that may provide more information on your ancestor. These include obituaries, grave markers, sexton’s records, or religious death records.
 * Pay attention to any notes about your ancestor such as occupation or marriage status. This information can be used to locate other records.

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Look for probate records for the region and time period in which your ancestor supposedly died. These records may give clues about when he or she passed away.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. There also may be variations in the spelling of names. Try variations while browsing through images.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in
 * South Africa Guided Research
 * South Africa Record Finder

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.