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Dalebout / D'Alebout family in South Africa.
Name.
The Dalebout name seems to have originated from the female side - A male Constandse married a female Daalbout. The names were then combined into Dalebout. The 'bout' portion of the name means 'the remainder of an embankment (dyke)'. The history behind this merging of families is reflected in the second name that is given to many of the family mambers - Konstand. It has often been thought of as a double barrel surname 'Konstand-Dalebout'. Today the name Konstand is still used within the D'Alebout family
More recently, the name has been changed to D'Alebout by the South African branch of the family, although Jan Cornelius Dalebout's death notices also have Delabou and Dalebou as names for the deceased.
Where did they come from?
In the middle ages, the town where the family lived was called Westenschouwen Taleboutseinde. This was later changed to Schouwen, and in 1997 a number of towns in the area were consolidated into 'Gemeente Schouwen - Duiveland.
The family members who came to SA were born in Tholen and Burgh.
Why did they come to South Africa?
Jacob Konstand came to South Africa in 1880. It seems that he was sent here because his youngest brother Adriannus was suffering from respiratory problems, which could have developed into TB. On his return to Holland, Jacob and 3 more members of the family (Eliza Konstand, Cornelius Konstand and Adrianus Konstand) left and came to SA in 1881. The decision to settle in Harrismith (around 1883) was made, as this area has a dry and relatively cool climate, which in those times was considered an effective way of helping him to survive. As it turned out Adrianus died just before his 80th birthday - of heart problems!
Other reasons on record for settling in Harrismith were: it was good farming country, and was on one of the transport routes from the coast to the hinterland.