Despite their cultural and agricultural influence, the French language did not endure in the Cape Colony. The Dutch, eager to maintain their linguistic dominance, discouraged the use of French within the first decade following the arrival of the Huguenots. French children were educated in Dutch, and French was banned from official and religious use. Over time, the Huguenots linguistically assimilated by adopting Dutch, which later evolved into Afrikaans.
Many family names from these early settlers—Malherbe, Joubert, Marais, du Toit, Graaff, Theron, de Villiers, Labuschagne, and Le Roux—are still common in South Africa today, bearing witness to their lasting influence. You will notice these names as you travel through the Cape Winelands. You may be surprised to learn that Roger Federer descends from a Huguenot family.
