South Africa Emigration and Immigration

Online Records

 * 1688-1950 South Africa, Passenger Index, 1688-1950 at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1850-1890 Passengers arriving in South African Ports - by the The Genealogical Society of South Africa
 * 1858-1986 South Africa, Immigration Index, 1858-1986 at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1860-1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1890-1960 Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960 at FindMyPast; index & images ($); includes those with Destination of South Africa
 * 1900-1902 Afrikaner refugee records from Portugal, 1900-1902 at FamilySearch Catalog; images only
 * South Africa Jewish Database. The primary aim of the project is to research the estimated 15,000 core families who migrated to Southern Africa between 1850-1950 from England, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus.

Immigration 1657-1795
In the 17th century, the southernmost point of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet became a desirable half-way haven for the Dutch East India Company which was trading with India. By order of that company in 1652, Jan van Riebeeck arrived with a few other Dutch settlers at the Cape of Good Hope to establish this half-way station so that fresh vegetables and fruits could be provided to prevent scurvy among the Company’s sailors. Emigrants from Holland were then encouraged to settle and colonize, but they were soon joined by settlers from other countries, as the following list shows:

1657-1675: 49 settlers, comprising 34 Dutch, 7 German, 3 Swedes and others. 1675-1700: 152 settlers, comprising 57 Dutch, 38 German, 51 French [Huguenots) and others 1700-1725: 261 settlers, comprising 122 Dutch, 102 German, 22 French and others 1725-1750: 273 settlers, comprising 78 Dutch, 180 German, Scandinavians, and others 1750-1775: 399 settlers, comprising 88 Dutch, 267 German, Scandinavians, and others 1775-1795: 392 settlers, comprising 115 Dutch, 212 German, Scandinavians, and others

Immigration 1795-1820
From 1795 onwards there were a few British residents at the Cape, many of whom were military personnel, but it was not until 1814 that Britain eventually gained formal possession of the Cape. Factors that prompted a substantial emigration of British settlers to South Africa 1819-1820, the most serious of which was the economic crisis in Britain following the Napoleonic wars which made emigration with promise of land and opportunity very attractive. Another was to settle the disputed eastern frontier of the Cape of Good Hope with a farming community to discourage the Xhosa tribe from crossing the colonial boundary. The British government also wanted to increase the English-speaking population of a recently acquired colony that was predominantly Dutch in its language and customs.

There are online resources for the British immigration to the cape. For example, there is a fantastic new website, "South African Settlers", for people who are tracing their ancestors in South Africa who emigrated from the British Isles. Although it covers mainly those who came in 1820, it is an on-going project with new names being added all the time. More information.

Websites

 * South African Settlers Resource Site
 * Immigrant Ships South Africa Arrivals
 * Cyndis List South African Emigration, Immigration and Migration.
 * Ancestry Search Passenger Lists to South Africa.
 * South Africa Passenger Lists eGGSA passenger list project.
 * South Africa Genweb site various links
 * Links to Passenger lists Museum Victoria
 * Genologer Site Emigration and passenger lists
 * Emigrant ships from various countries Sydaby.eget
 * Archives South Africa GG Archives
 * 1820 British Settlers in South Africa Geni.com
 * Ships Passenger Lists Olive Tree Genealogy.
 * South African Settlers British who emigrated to South Africa. Covers a high percentage of the 1820 settlers who went to South Africa from the British Isles. Additional 19th century settlers are being added. To find out more information about this site, you may visit the site or visit the wiki page about this site.
 * South African Passenger Lists
 * www.ancestorsonboard.com Outward Passenger Lists from Britain On-line$