Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study deals with the history of a branch of the Swanepoel family in South Africa over the past 300 years and was conducted by means of genealogical and cultural historical research methods. Pieter Jansz Swanepoel, progenitor of the Swanepoel family in South Africa, came from Nieuwmunster in the present day municipality (gemeente) of Zuienkerke in the city of Brugge in West Flanders. He came to South Africa in 1699 as a soldier of the Dutch East India Company. He became a free burgher in 1700. Between 1709 and 1747 he made a living as a farmer on the farm Nieuwmunster close to where the town of Wolseley is now. In 1712 Pieter Jansz Swanepoel married Maria Sibella Sachs, the widow of Jan Christoffel Haak, and seven sons and one daughter were born out of this union. Hereafter six successive generations of Swanepoels made a living as stock-farmers, of which the last five resided in the districts of Graaff-Reinet, Beaufort-West and Prince Albert. As a result of droughts, a world wide economic depression and the after effects of the Second World War this tradition came to an end. Consequently the members of this family today find themselves all over South Africa. Therefore family ties are not as strong as they used to be and the tradition of naming became less important. Traditionally genealogical research concentrates on the male line. This study, however, attempts to research the descent of the progenitress in each generation as well and the findings are reflected in an ancestral chart. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is die familiegeskiedenis van 'n tak van die Swanepoel-familie oor die afgelope 300 jaar wat deur middel van genealogiese en kultuurhistoriese navorsingsmetodes opgestel is. Die stamvader, Pieter Jansz Swanepoel, was afkomstig van Nieuwmunster in die teenswoordige munisipaliteit (gemeente) Zuienkerke in die stad Brugge in WesVlaandere en het in 1699 as soldaat in diens van die VOC na die Kaap gekom. Reeds in die jaar 1700 word hy 'n vryburger en vanaf 1709 tot 1747 boer hy op die plaas Nieuwmunster digby die huidige Wolseley. In 1712 tree hy in die huwelik met Maria Sibella Sachs, die weduwee van Jan Christoffel Haak. Uit die huwelik word sewe seuns en een dogter gebore. Hierna volg ses opeenvolgende geslagte veeboere waarvan die laaste vyf hulle in die distrikte Graaff-Reinet, Beaufort-Wes en Prins Albert bevind. Droogtes, 'n wereldwye ekonomiese depressie en die nagevolge van die Tweede Wereldoorlog maak 'n einde aan hierdie tradisie en lei daartoe dat die lede van hierdie betrokke tak van die Swanepoel-familie oor die lengte en die breedte van Suid-Afrika versprei. Dit het onder andere tot gevolg dat familiebande baie losser word en dat naamgewinggebruike nie meer so slaafs nagevolg word nie. Tradisioneel is genealogiese navorsing toegespits op die manlike lyn. In hierdie studie is daar gepoog om ook die herkoms van die stammoeders in elke geslag so ver as moontlik na te vors en in 'n kwartierstaat te reflekteer.