As the founder member of this UK immigration practice, I chose the name Depner Immigration Consultants for our legal business/immigration service. I am often asked why specifically ‘Depner’?
The answer will be, I hope, of interest to some.
The progenitor (stamouer-vader) of the Dippenaar family in South Africa is Johann Martin Depner. Johann Depner left Europe on 15 June 1735 from Texel, Netherlands on the ship Beukenstijn (journey number 2994.1). According to the ships’ records Johann came from Wehlau, East-Prussia, a former province of Germany. However, his marriage records show that he actually came from Koningsbergen (Königsberg), 50 km west of Wehlau, which later became Kaliningrad. He married Maria Magdalena Smit in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on 10 November 1748.
The Dutch later changed it to a version that would look and sound more Netherlands. Johann’s name was changed, over time, to Johannes Marthinus Dippenaar.
So, in memory and honour of my great, great ancestor, Johann Martin Depner: – – – Depner Immigration Consultants.
With many thanks to Isak P. Bosman who researched my family tree and authored ‘Die Dippenaar-Familie van Suid-Afrika’.
Daniel Dippenaar, 23 January 2019