↑ «i»Son of Claas a form of Nicolaas. Family in Southern Africa has four stamvaders. The first was Cornelis Claassen from Utrecht in the Netherlands. Arrived at the Cape in the service of the VOC. Citizen in 1657. Married on 15 March 1676 with Catharina van Malabar from Coromandel in India. 6 children from the marriage.
Second stamvader is Claas Claassen (also called Claus Clauszen or Claaz Claaszen) from Delve in Ditmarschen in Germany. Arrived in the Cape on in 1721. Citizen in 1734. Married to Aletta Alida Knoetzen on 22 May 1735 in Drakenstein (6 children from the marriage). Passed away in 1767 on his farm next to the Gouritz River.
Third stamvader is Klaas Jacob Claassen from Eiderstad in Sleeswyk, Germany. Arrived at the Cape in 1762 as a sailor. Later signalor and quartermaster and sheriff of the Council of Justice. Married to Helena Boonsaaier on 22 November 1771 (3 children from the marriage). Passed away in 1788.
The last stamvader is Hermanus Claasen from Kopenhagen in Denmark. Married to Jannetjie van Wyk on 10 July 1768. Remarried on 15 January 1786 to Sara Maria Stricker (11 children from the marriage).«/i»
