de Wet name history

The progenitor of the South African families which bear this surname was Jacobus de Wet, born in May 1673, the son of an artist of the same name working in Amsterdam. The younger de Wet entered the service of the Dutch East India Company in 1693 and in the same year set out for the Cape on board the vessel "Nigtevegt". He initially occupied the post of "provisional assistant" to Governor Simon van der Stel., later functioning as the secretary of the Small Claims Court and as a book-keeper. In 1704, de Wet purchased a farm on the Liesbeek and he became a citizen in 1708. He was married on 13 April 1698 to Christina Bergh, who subsequently bore him six children. The surname introduced to South Africa by this gentleman had originated in Holland as an occupational name, reflecting the trade or profession practiced by the initial bearer or his father. In this instance, the term was based on the middle Dutch word "wet," denoting a "law" or "legal regulation", hence the appellation would have applied to one who worked in the law courts in some capacity, perhaps as an advocate or clerk. It is also conceivable that the original bearer of the de Wet moniker was a civic or provincial official, perhaps what was known in Holland as a "wethouder" (aldernan) who was involved with the formulation of local laws and regulations.

Gerrit de Wet was a notable seventeenth century Dutch painter. A disciple of Rembrandt, his works included depictions of Biblical stories as well as pastoral scenes. Among the prominent bearers of this surname in South Africa were the eighteenth century lawyer and historian Johannes de Wet, a descendant of Jacobus who helped found the "South African College" and was active in the movement for self-government. He was the owner of the famous "Koopman-De Wet Huis" in Cape Town. The arms described below were displayed by his family.

Blazon of arms: Argent, a water-wheel of eight spokes gules.

Crest: A griffin issuing gules.

Origin: Holland