South Africa Genealogy

Guide to South Africa ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Country Information
South Africa is a country in Africa bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, eSwatini, and Lesotho. Portions of South Africa were formerly ruled by Portugal, The Netherlands, and Great Britain. There are 11 official languages.

Getting Started


South Africa Clickable Map
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in South Africa.

Jurisdictions
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in South Africa. Click on a place below to go to the corresponding Wiki article listing more information.

South Africa is divided into nine provinces.

From 1910 to 1994, South Africa had four provinces: the Transvaal and Orange Free State, Natal and the Cape.

More South Africa Research Tools

 * FamilySearch Help Center Lessons
 * Beginning South Africa Research
 * South Africa National Archives
 * South Africa FamilySearch Collections Online
 * British Concentration Camps
 * Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 Records
 * Vital Records--Obtaining Death Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates
 * Colonial Office Transcripts
 * South African Passenger Lists
 * 1820 Settlers
 * South African Settlers
 * South African Genealogy
 * South Africa Family History Information on the Internet
 * First Fifty Years - a project collating Cape of Good Hope records
 * The Genealogical Society of South Africa links
 * Cyndis List
 * Forebears
 * Government Where can I get assistance to trace my family tree?
 * South African Family History
 * South Africa Genealogy Resources & Vital Records
 * South African Genealogy Useful Links

More websites

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.
 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
 * Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
 * Historical Records
 * Family History Center locator map