J. M. Coetzee

Birth Name: John Maxwell Coetzee

Place of Birth: Cape Town, South Africa

Date of Birth: 9 February, 1940

Ethnicity: Afrikaner [Dutch, French, German, Belgian Flemish], Portuguese, one eighth Polish, English, Irish, as well as 1/256th Tamil Indian, 1/1024 Malagasy, remote Danish and Finnish

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J. M. Coetzee is a South African writer. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003.

J. M.’s father, Zacharias “Jack/Zach” Coetzee, was an occasional attorney and government employee, from Prince Albert, Cape, now Western Cape. J. M’s mother, Vera Hildred Marie (Wehmeyer), was a schoolteacher, from Diepkloof, Transvaal, now Gauteng.

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J. M. was married to Philippa Jubber, with whom he has two children.

A few of J. M.’s remote ancestors were Indian slaves.

J. M.’s sixth paternal great-grandfather, Dirk Coetzee, was a Dutch immigrant, from Kampen, Overijssel. J. M.’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his seventh great-grandfather, Gerhard Coetzee.

J. M.’s paternal grandfather was Gerrit Maxwell “Gert” Coetzee (the son of Frederik Laurens Johannes Coetzee and Elizabeth Agnes Mills). Gerrit was born in Hopefield, Western Cape. Frederik was the son of Gerrit “Gert” Coetzee and Elizabeth Jacoba Hess. J. M.’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of J. Mills.

J. M.’s paternal grandfather was Magdalena Catherina “Lenie” de Beer (the daughter of Zacharias Johannes Hendrik “Zaag” de Beer and Magdalena Maria Le Roux). J. M’s grandmother Magdalena was born in Prince Albert, Central Karoo DC, Western Cape. J. M.’s great-grandfather Zacharias was the son of Zacharias Johannes Hendrikus de Beer and Catharina Petronella Oosthuijsen/Oosthuizen. J. M.’s great-grandmother Magdalena was the daughter of Gabriel Jacobus Le Roux.

J. M.’s maternal grandfather was Petrus/Pieter Hendrik Wehmeyer (the son of Gottlieb/Gotlieb Wilhelm Bernhard Wehmeyer and Anna Maria Adriana Ferreira). Pieter was born in Stellenbosch, Breede River DC, Western Cape. Gottlieb was the son of Bernhard Matthys/Matthijs Wehmeyer/Wehmeijer and Martha Johanna Maria Zondagh. Anna was the daughter of Ignatius Stephanus Johannes Ferreira and Gertruida Sophia Minnie.

J. M.’s maternal grandmother was Louise Amalia du Biel (the daughter of Balthazar du Biel and Anna Louisa Brecher). Louise was born in Illinois, U.S. Balthazar was a Polish emigrant, from Schwarzwald, Posen, now Czarnylas, Greater Poland Voivodeship. Anna was the daughter of a German emigrant, Ferdinand Brecher, of Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, and of Anna Katharina Hanafey. The surname Hanafey is of Irish origin.

J.M.’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his fifth great-grandmother, Jurriana Frederika van Bernago.

Sources: Genealogy of J. M. Coetzee –

Genealogy of J.M.’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Gerrit Coetzee –

Genealogy of J.M.’s paternal great-great-great-grandmother, Aletta Elizabeth (Delport) Hesse –

Genealogy of J.M.’s paternal great-great-great-grandfather, Matthys Andries de Beer (through Matthys’s brother, Zacharias Johannes de Beer) –

Genealogy of J.M.’s paternal great-great-great-grandfather, Ockert Almero Oosthuijsen/Oosthuizen –

Genealogy of J.M.’s paternal great-great-great-grandmother, Adriana Cecilia (Venter) Oosthuizen –

Genealogy of J.M.’s maternal grandfather, Petrus/Pieter Hendrik Wehmeyer (focusing on his own father’s side) –

Genealogy of J.M.’s maternal great-grandmother, Anna Maria Adriana Ferreira (through Anna’s sister, Margaretha Louisa Ferreira) –