FAQ
Was it "de Wit" or "White"
(Legend of the change of the South African de Wit family name)

Question :
According to the family legend, Jan de Wit's name was originally "White" and he changed it to "de Wit" upon reaching South Africa. The family name "White" sounds very English. Isn't it strange that this name should be associated with the Dutch colony there in Nieuw York? Could it be that the de Wit ancestors were not of Dutch descent after all but was simply able to mix with them?

Answer :
The rumour that they changed from "de Wit" to "White" and back to "de Wit" persists - I haven't seen this with any other family. First of all, we are looking at a period where surnames were deemed of little importance, both abroad and in the Lowlands themselves and could be chopped and changed at the stroke of a pen.

After the Dutch colonisation of the North Americas, it soon shifted to English rule, whilst the Cape remained fully Dutch until 1795 and thereafter officially half Dutch half English until 1910. After that, half Afrikaans half English until 1994. South Africa now have 11 official languages, but Afrikaans and English are still the most used. For the de Wits, it would have been possible that they described themselves as "White" in a mainly English area and return to using "de Wit" in a Dutch environment.

Their children all had Dutch given names. I think that is the important aspect to look at, as the given name and patronymic was of high importance in the Lowlands. Only high born and important people had surnames. In my ancestry even the children of the daughters of important people carry the surname of their maternal grandfather. For most ordinary folks the surname, or suffix really, was used as a descriptive indicator of origin, occupation or appearance in locations other than their own. It had no official purpose. However, the first name as well as the patronymic remained fixed (I have them from as early as 1310 and they went back much further) This system was changed in 1811 - ie. long after the de Wit's had left the Lowlands.

The other aspect is 'Timing'. The Dutch were at loggerheads with the English in that period and it is unlikely that they would have let an English citizen, or one who was originally English, reside at the Cape for security reasons.

Another thing to look at were their 'Occupations'. The whole de Wit family was involved with the V.O.C., Batavia, and served in high positions the Dutch fleet. The girls married V.O.C. officials of high standing. This too would have been unlikely at the time if they had been from English descent.

Gerda Pieterse
South Africa