Thomas Knoetzen, SV/PROG 2

Variations in Spelling of the name - Knoetzen; Knoesen; Knutsen; Knutzen; Knudsen; Knudzen; Knusen

From the Island of Funen (Fyn), Denmark arrived in SA 1769 on the Ganzenhoff. Burger 1775, joiner

The other Knoesen - Cornelis - was also from the Island of Funen (Fyn), Denmark

http://www.langdale-associates.com/denmark_2007/part_2~3/index.htm

Excellent information on the name origins - quote -

"Knoesen is a Dutch rendering of the Danish surname “Knoetzen”, which was introduced to South Africa in the late seventeenth century by one “Cornelius Knoetzen”, a native of the Danish island of Fyn who arrived in the Cape sometime prior to 1691. In that year, Knoetzen was married to Dirkje Helmes, with whom he eventually had eight children. Some of the South African families which now bear the surname Knoesen may be descended from “Thomas Knoetzen”, who hailed from the same Danish island and migrated to South Africa in 1769. He was married, on 26 June 1775, to the former Maria Jacoba Grundlingh, who bore him eight children. Although the majority of early Cape settlers were of Dutch, German or French provenance, there were a number of Scandinavians among those pioneers and most of them modified their surnames to make them appear more “Dutch”.

The surnames “Knoetzen, Knoetsen, “Knudsen” and “Knudzen”, originated as pabronymic names based upon the personal name “Knud”, which can be rendered from the Old Horse as “bold” or “daring”. This personal name was a prestiguous and highly favoured one in Denmark and Northern Germany during the medieval period, owing chiefly to the renown of “Knud (or Tanube) the Great”, a tenth and eleventh century king of Denmark, Norway and England. He completed the conversion of the Danes to Christianity, and was the subject of a well-known anecdote, wherein he was said to have stood at the shore and commanded the waves to recede, his purpose being to illustrate to his courtiers the limits of a king’s power. The “-sen” suffix is common in padronymic names which developed in Denmark and Norway, as well as, to a lesser extent, in Holland and northern Germany. The arms on the right are based on those found on a wax impression in the Cape Archive, made in 1764 by the seal of the widow Dirkje Knoetzen."

He came from Odense, Funen Island, Denmark. Knoetzen (Thomas); submits that» according to the Gov- ernor*s orders, the troops encamped on his estate have (as far as he and his family were able to act) been supplied with all provi- sions and necessaries* the account for which be hereunto an- ïiexes. He further submits that his estate produces at least 15 leaders of wine, and tliat the yearly produce of his garden he estimates from six to eight hundred dollars annually That now; lio wever, he has had no crop whatever from vineyard or garden, everything having been consumed b}- the troops. But confident of Your Excellency s honourable intentions toward himself and fellow inhabitants, he considers it superfluous to say more^ hoping that his sickly and helpless situation will be taken into consideration, and that he may be granted such rehef and com- pensation as may be deemed equitable. (Signature.) (No. 160 ; date, 24th Fcbruar}\) (Full text of "Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope")

Die stamvader Thomas Knoesen het in 1769 aan boord van die Ganzenhoff in Tafelbaai geland. Hy was n skrynwerker van beroep en afkomstig van die distrik Odense in die noorde van die eiland Fuhnen in Denemark. Op die skip het hy as haakbusskut op die Gansenhof gedien. Hy het as soldaat ( bosschieter ) in diens van die Kompanjie gestaan tot in 1775 toe hy burgerskap gekry het. Op 25 Junie 1775 is hy in die Paarl getroud met Maria Jacoba Grundlingh. In Augustus 1775 kry hy sy eie stukkie grond die plaas Onrust tussen Stellenbosch en Kuilsrivier.In 1778 koop hy die plaas Uijtwijck aan die Liesbeekrivier wat een van Jan van Riebeeck se drie oorsplonklike plase was.Daarna volg daar nog . Thomas en Maria het 9 kinder gehad wat almal in Stellenboch gedoop is. 4 dogters 5 seuns. Slegs 2 van die 5 seuns het volwassenheid bereik. Christiaan Godlieb het 4 kinders gehad. Sy enigste seun Thomas Daniel is jonk oorlede. Die ander seun was Hendrik Rudolph wat op 29 Julie 1804 te Kaapstad met Maria Sophia Kleynhans in die huwelik bevestig is.