The Thompson and Van der Merwe Family History I have always known that my family had come from different countries in Europe, but I did not know anything more than where the immediate generations had come from. My mother’s maiden name is “Van der Merwe”. The Van der Merwes originated in the 5th Century in Southern Holland. The name came from King Merovaues, who was the King of the clan he had established in an area called Dordrecht, on the river Waal. The remains of the Merwede Castle in Dordrecht, Holland Over the centuries, the name changed, and it became "Merwede" in the 11th Century. During this time, the “mighty” King built a beautiful palace on the Waal river, which he renamed the Merwede River in honor of his family. The section of the river is still called the Merwede River to this day. From the year 1150, the firstborn son of each generation was called Daniel (pronounced "D äniel") . Daniel the First had been knighted and later took over