Hi Folks I am looking at a potential name change in our family. From what older family members have said, my theory is that our surname was changed from De Villiers to Collingwood. Is anyone researching De Villiers families in the Cape Town area? My gg grandfather's christian name was unknown but my gg grandmother was Maria. Maria married prior to 1850. They were Anglican. My great grandfather's three christian names were William Frederick De Vere. Was De Vere Maria's maiden name, or was our surname De Vere? William Frederick was born c1850. He at least two unnamed brothers. All three served in the navy where one was a doctor. By his NZ death certificate, William Frederick left Sth Africa in c1870 for New Zealand where he remained. However he only appears on the NZ radar in Port Chalmers in 1875. Does this ring any bells? Any suggestions of where to look to try and confirm or not this theory would be much appreciated. Gordon