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Steyn is a reasonably common surname in South Africa and Namibia. According to the website forebears.io, there are more than 54 thousand Steyns worldwide, living in about 80 countries. The top five countries are: South-Africa (>50 000), USA (>600), UK (>500), Namibia (>500), and Australia (>500).
Helpful Genealogical References about the South African Steyns:
1. South African Genealogies Vol 12, available from GISA, Stellenbosch, SA
2. Die families van Ou Swellendam Deel 1 Steyn, by M van Hemert, available from the Drostdy Museum, Swellendam, SA
3. Die Nasate van AFW Steyn en EM Linde, by JW Jonker, available from the Drostdy Museum, Swellendam, SA
4. Steyn in Rhodesia / Zimbabwe: Die Pioniertrekke na Gazaland by S.P. Olivier. Also available in English as Many Treks Made Rhodesia. Especially chapter 11: The Henry-Steyn Trek (1895) http://www.geni.com/projects/Henry-Steyn-Trek-1895
5. Murapi Wedu - Die verhaal van Dr Tommie Steyn van Morgenster; by C.R. van Wyk; ISBN 0-620-19905-9
6. Familieverhalen uit Zuid-Afrika; Annari van der Merwe and Paul Faber, eds.; KIT Publishers; ISBN 90-6832-522-1; especially chapter 5: De familie Steyn - een familie en hun boerderij.
7. Steyns in Oos Afrika, veral Kenia
8. Steyns connected to The Drostdy in Swellendam: Chapter One of Overberg Outspan - a Chronicle of People and Places in the South Western Districts of the Cape by E.H. Burrows.
10. Steyns worldwide according to forebears.io
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The Steyn progenitors who came to South Africa according to South African Genealogies volume 12:
1. Arie STEYN arrived in SA abt 1780 from the Netherlands - as far as we know he had only one daughter
2. Douwe Gerbrandt STEYN arrived in SA about 1670 from Friesland - largest STEYN family in South Africa is named after him - in Geni he is listed as SV/PROG 1. This STEYN tribe has two main branches: Hermanus STEYN branch b1c3 and the Jacobus STEYN branch b1c8. The Hermanus branch has six sub-branches: Hans Jurgen b1c3c4, Hermanus b1c3d6 (he was President Steyn of Swellendam), Douw Gerbrand b1c3d8 (a descendant was the mother of President Kruger), Daniel b1c3d11, Johannes b1c3d12 and Petrus Paulus b1c3d13 (This sub-branch was associated with the Voorhuis farm). The Jacobus branch has five sub-branches: Jacobus b1c8d2, Douw Gerbrand b1c8d3, Louis b1c8d5, Hermanus Jacobus b1c8d12 and Marthinus b1c8d13 (one of his descendants was President Steyn of the Orange Free State. The b1c8d13e3 sub-sub-branch was associated with the Drostdy in Swellendam).
3. Johann Michael STEYN arrived in SA about 1752 from Königsberg, Germany. Very few descendants known. In Geni he is listed as SV/PROG 2
4. Johannes STEYN arrived in SA about 1748/1778 from Darmstadt, Germany. Second largest STEYN family in SA. In Geni he is listed as SV/PROG 3.
5. Johann Conrad STEYN arrived in SA about 1775 from Germany. Listed in Geni as SV/PROG 4
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Well-known Steyn profiles on Geni:
The president of the Swellendam Republic, Hermanus STEYN
The president of the Orange Free State, Marthinus Theunis STEYN. The town Steynsrus was named after him.
Laywer and politician Colin Fraser STEYN.
Lid van Volksraad OVS Daniel Wynand STEYN.
Judge Theunie STEYN.
Judge Gabriel STEYN.
Judge Jan STEYN
Lord Johan van Zyl STEYN, well known lawyer in the UK
Professor Jacob Cornelis -Jaap- STEYN author, linguist, journalist, biographer, culture historian.
Daniel du Plessis STEYN. He was Private Secretary of General Herzog and Consul general in Portuguese East Africa.
Dr Tommie STEYN, famous medical missionary pioneer in Zimbabwe. Several books have been written about his life. For example: Murapi Wedu by C.R. van Wyk.
Douw Gerbrand STEYN, grandfather of ===President Paul Kruger===
. The town Steynsburg was named after him.
Willie STEYN who escaped from the Concentration Camp in Sri Lanka during the Anglo Boer war - two books have been written about his adventures: Die Vyf Swemmers, by C.J. Barnard and Terug Na Kommando by L.A. Visagie. In addition to this, chapter nine of Ontsnap! Boerekrygsgevangenes se strewe na vryheid by A.Blake contains some previously unpublished details about his story.
Johannes Gerhardus Frederick STEYN, leader of the Steyn trek to Rhodesia / Zimbabwe.
Ds Hendrik Pieter Marthinus STEYN, Secretary of the Bible Society and key person for the first Bible in Afrikaans. Known as Bybel Steyn / Bible Steyn.
Some well-known Steyns as listed on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyn
Christo Steyn (born 1961), South African tennis player
Dale Steyn (born 1983), South African cricketer
Elmar Steyn (1915-2001), South African writer and educator
Esta Steyn, South African writer
François Steyn (born 1987), South African rugby union player
Johan Steyn, Baron Steyn (born 1932), South African jurist
Herman Steyn (born 1951), South African author on Project Management
Lucas Cornelius Steyn (1903-1976), South African politician. Governor-general of South Africa Nov/Dec 1959 and April/May 1961; Chief Justice of South Africa for 12 years up to 1971.
Mark Steyn (born 1959), Canadian journalist
Martinus Theunis Steyn (1857-1916), South African lawyer, politician, and statesman
Morne Steyn (born 1984), South African rugby union player
Paul Steyn (born 1984), Namibian cricketer
Pieter Steyn (1706-1772), Dutch politician
Rudi Steyn (born 1967), South African cricketer
Vance Backlin Steyn (born 1973), South African Surfer
Feel free to add your own information here. What about the profiles of some famous rugby or cricket players? Or other politicians, professors, etc.?
Dr. H.J. Steyn burgemeester van Bloemfontein 1925
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Oldest reference to the surname STEYN: Carolyn Paisley <wonderwomanx@yahoo.com> shares on 11 Nov 1998 in an e-mail: You might like to know that the eminent Leics historian WG Hoskins traces the Steane name back to a Thomas and Robert Steyn who were descended from one Steyn of Cosby. It is a Scandinavian name. These early Steyns are associated with Cosby in the 1200s. The name also occurs at this time at Arnesby, then in the 16th century as Steyne, Stayne and Steane (1534 Billesdon, 1539 Shenton, 1542 Birstall, 1555 Tilton. He says the name has come down today as Staines and Staynes, but Steane clearly has the same origin. This info comes from Hoskin's book Leicestershire Yeoman Families and their Pedigrees.
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STEYN in Dutch: derived from 'steen' which means stone, rock and in old times also meant 'weapon made from stone'. STEYN in German: derived from 'Stein' which has the same meaning as the Dutch - stone, rock.
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Iets interessants oor 'n paar Steyns in die Boere-oorlog: There are three burgers named Steyn in my books (and photos of their carved rifles). There is also H.J. Steyn of Bethlehem, that I wrote to you about (which will appear in my next book). To date I have: P. STEYN G.C. STEYN - Gert Christoffel H.G. STEYN - Hendrk Gabriel Details of my books and a selection of photos (see "Gallery Book 1" and "Gallery Book 2") appear on my website: www.boerwarcarvings.bravehost.com If ever interested, stocks of my books are in the UK, as well as Durban and Bloemfontein (apart from Australia and USA). Please tell any other people you know, who may be interested in this subject. Kind regards, Dave George.