According to folklore all the Clurs In South Africa stem from two brothers originally from Germany who came to South Africa in the 1800’s. However research has only produced evidence of one Clur, Johann Michael Clur (1830-1902) having travelled to South Africa. As he is referred to as Johann in some texts and Michael in others, this may have lead to the misconception that there were two Clur brothers that came to South Africa in 1857.
The Clurs (Clours) of Welschneureut (1699-1860) traces Johann Michael Clur’s origins in the Clour family that escaped the persecution of French Huguenots and settled in Welschneureut. Little known information about the German Clours is explored. See also the blog by Sally-Ann Clur: Visiting Welschneureut and Friedrichstal.
Johann Michael Clur married Louise Wilhelmine Flieth. The origins of Louise are researched in **Gottfried Flieth (1813 – 1889) and **Henriette Louise Spann (1814 – 1898), and her heritage is traced back to the Desmarets family in France.
Johann Michael Clur and Louise Wilhelmine Flieth‘s firstborn son was Carl Friedrich Clur (1861-1913). Carl Friedrich (1861-1913), married Louise Caroline Puchert (1865-1953).
Louise Caroline Puchert (1865-1953) was the daughter of Carl Georg Puchert (1834-1914) a coachman from Rossow, Prenzlau and Marie Wilhelmina Werbelow (1833-1923). They sailed to South Africa on the San Francisco steamer in 1861. The date 15th May 1861 is given is some records as their departure date from Hamburg, Germany, and by others the date of their arrival in Cape Town, South Africa.
The blog “Searching for Carl and Wilhelmine” by Sally-Ann Clur tells of her road trip looking for the origins of Carl and Wilhelmine.