The South African and SJM Swanepoel Lineage

Swanepoel(pronounced swan-e-pool)

All Swanepoel’s descending from South Africa can be traced back to Petrus Jansz Swaenepoel (later known as Pieter Swanepoel). Pieter was born on January 26, 1678 in Nieumunster, West Flanders, Flemish Region, Belgium.

He relocated to South Africa in 1699 and married Maria Sachs (born in Germany) on May 1st, 1712. According to census documents he was a wine farmer with over 6,000 vines in the mid 1720s. He lived to the ripe old age of 94 and died in Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa in 1772. His descendants establish the second largest community of Swanepoel’s in the world outside the Belgium.

The Stephanus Johannes Marthinus Swanepoel family line starts on June 23rd, 1793 when SJM (1st) is born in Graaff-Reinet. He marries Hester Rossouw on January 15th, 1815 and was head of one of the original 2,300 white families that lead the ‘trek’ (expedition) north to create a better life for their families. In 1960 he settled in Warmbad, (today Bela-Bela) where he died at the age of 103 on May 20th, 1897.

The SJM Swanepoel family lived on the farm Tweefontein (Two Fountains) and surrounding areas of Waterberg-distrik (Water Mountains) for almost 200 years before Stephanus Johannes Marthinus (Stefan) Swanepoel (6th) moved to San Diego, California, USA on September 30th, 1994.

The first “Swanepoel” to arrive in the US is traced back to a Juliana Swaenepoel who also arrived from Belgium, via Ellis Island, in 1920 and the first Swanepoel (without the first “e”) listed in the US Federal Census was Emiel Swanepoel in 1940. According to the 2000 Census there were 123 people with the last name of Swanepoel living in the US with the highest concentration in southern California.

Notable people with the last name Swanepoel

Public Figures

  • Candice Swanepoel, South African super model, who becomes a Victoria’s Secret Angel and one of 100 Sexiest Women in the World. Today she lives in the USA.
  • Landi Swanepoel, South African born Guess jeans model who appears in Maxim’s February 2009 Swimsuit Issue. Today she lives in the USA.
  • Stefan Swanepoel, Kenya born American business executive and New York Times best-selling author of 25+ books. Today he lives in the USA.

Sport

  • Chris Swanepoel, young South African golfer who wins the 2012 Zimbabwe Open. He lives in South Africa.
  • Corney Swanepoel, South African born immigrant who swims for New Zealand at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He lives in New Zealand.
  • Koos Swanepoel, South Africa born motorsport legend (now retired).
  • Pieter Swanepoel, South African born first-class cricketer. Lives in South Africa.
  • Stephan Swanepoel, Namibian born cricketer who represents his country at the Under-19 World Cup and over 75 games.
  • Werner Swanepoel, a South African born Springbok rugby player from 1997 – 2000. He lives in South Africa.

Mining

  • Bernard Swanepoel, CEO of Village Main Reef Mining Company.
  • Christo Swanepoel, General Manager at Koidu Lyd, part of Octea Diamond Group
  • Teon Swanepoel, Head of Mining Operations at Petra Diamonds.

Other

  • Albertus Swanepoel, a South Africa born fashion and hat designer. Today he lives in New York, USA.
  • Anton Swanepoel, South African born globetrotter, diving instructor and ‘how to’ author.
  • Konrad Swanepoel, South African born mathematician and author now working at the London School of Economics.
  • Rudi and Sharon Swanepoel were both born and raised in South Africa. They are both ordained and serve in ministry in the United States.
  • Dr. Zacharias Swanepoel, former Trade Commissioner representing Great Brittan and South Africa in Kenya and Hong Kong.

Notable usage of the Swanepoel name:

  • AJ Swanepoel – A sports venue in Mpumalanga, South Africa
  • Swanepoel’s Opal, Swanepoel’s Blue and Swanepoel’s Copper – Three species of butterflies (of the Lycaenidae family)
  • Swanepoelspoort – A mountain pass in the Eastern Cape in South Africa.
  • Entreprises Swanepoel is a civil, road-building and earthworks business that has operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1930. The company is still today managed by numerous third generation Swanepoels.