South Africa Genealogy

Africa

South Africa

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

South Africa Wiki Topics
Beginning Research
Research Strategies Record Finder
Record Types
Cemeteries Census Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Genealogies Emigration & Immigration Jewish Records Land & Property	Military Records Newspapers Notarial Records Occupations Online Records Periodicals Probate Records Religious Records Vital Records Websites
South Africa Background
Afrikaans Word List Gazetteers History Jurisdictions	Languages Maps Names, Personal
Local Research Resources
Archives & Libraries Societies Family History Centers
Moderator
The FamilySearch moderator for the South Africa is Daniel Jones.

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

Getting Started with South Africa Research Links to articles on getting started with South Africa research. "How to" Guides Online Records Church Records Civil Registration

South Africa Research Tools Links to articles and websites that assist in South Africa research. South Africa RootsChat A Research Guide for Beginners by Rosemary Dixon-Smith Tracing Your South Africa Roots South African genealogy tips 1820 British Settlers in South Africa See More Research Tools

South Africa Online Genealogy Records

Ask the Community

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.

Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal Limpopo

Mpumalanga Northern Cape North West Western Cape

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
• Family Bible Index (includes South African Bibles)

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