Van der Merwe

Van der Merwe is a common Afrikaans surname, derived from the Dutch "van der Merwen" ("from the Merwede"). It was brought to South Africa in 1661 by Dutch people employed by the Dutch East India Company.
The progenitors of the extended clan are Willem Schalk van der Merwe (born in "Broeck", probably Broek, Utrecht near the Merwede) and Elsje Cloete (born Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia). Married in 1668 in Cape Town, they later farmed for a living in Hout Bay and eventually retired to Drakenstein. Many if not most of the people below, who include 16 rugby players, are their descendants.
Use in jokes.
'Van der Merwe' is the butt of many South African jokes.