South Africans in the United Kingdom

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South Africans in the United Kingdom
Counties of the UK South African.svg
Distribution by regional area at the 2011 census
Total population
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg South African-born residents in the United Kingdom: 235,060 – 0.4%
(2021/22 Census) [note 1]

Flag of England.svg  England and Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales: 217,180 – 0.4% (2021) [1]
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland: 15,253 – 0.3% (2022) [2]
Northern Ireland: 2,627 – 0.1% (2021) [3]
Regions with significant populations
London, South East England
Languages
English (British, South African), Afrikaans
Religion
Predominantly:

Christianity
(Anglicanism  · Calvinism  · Methodism)

Minority:
Judaism, Traditional African religion, Irreligion
Related ethnic groups
Zimbabwean British, Afrikaners, British diaspora in Africa, South African American
  1. Does not include South Africans born in the United Kingdom or those with ancestry rooted in South Africa

South Africans in the United Kingdom include citizens and residents of the United Kingdom with origins in South Africa.

Contents

Demographics

According to the 2011 UK census, 186,355 South African-born people were resident in England, 4,668 in Wales, 10,607 in Scotland and 1,847 in Northern Ireland. [4] [5] [6] The 2021 UK census recorded 211,447 South African-born people residing in England, 5,733 in Wales, and 2,627 in Northern Ireland. [7] [8]

Unlike the country of South Africa itself, the majority of the South African diaspora living in the United Kingdom are White South Africans. Of all people identifying as South African in England and Wales, 86% identify as white, while 12% identify as black and 2% as mixed. [9] According to the 2021 Census, the majority of South African born people in the UK live in Surrey and South West London, particularly in Elmbridge, Woking, and Merton. [10]

Notable South Africans in the United Kingdom

This list includes those who were born in South Africa and those who were born in another country but primarily raised in South Africa.

South African born British people have contributed heavily in sports, especially in Commonwealth sports such as Cricket and Rugby. 17 South African born players have played for the England national cricket team and over a dozen have played for both the England and Scotland national Rugby Union teams collectively.

NameOccupation
Alex Bell Scotland Footballer with 1 cap in 1912
Allan Lamb England Cricketer between 1982 and 1992
Amanda Craig novelist
Andrew Feinstein former politician
Andrew Surman England U-21 Footballer with 4 caps and 1 goal between 2007 and 2008
Andrew Strauss England Cricketer between 2003 and 2012
Angelique Rockas British Actress, Producer and Activist
Antony Sher British Actor
Basil D'Oliveira England Cricketer between 1966 and 1972
Belle Delphine Pornographic actress, Internet personality.
Beth Tweddle British Gymnast, three time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist
Bill Perry England Footballer with 3 caps and 2 goals between 1955 and 1956
Brad Barritt England and British and Irish Lion Rugby Union Player with 26 appearances between 2012 and 2015
Bob Holness British Quiz Show Host
Brian Stein England Footballer with 1 cap in 1984
Cameron Norrie British Tennis Player and former world number 66
Caspar Lee British YouTuber and Vlogger with 7.5 million+ subscribers (Born in UK but raised in South Africa)
Ciara Charteris producer and former actress
Chris Froome British cyclist, 7 time grand tour winner and Olympic bronze medallist
Chris Smith England Cricketer between 1983 and 1986
Colin Viljoen England Footballer with 2 caps in 1975
Craig Kieswetter England Cricketer between 2010 and 2013
David Ribbans England Rugby Union player
Deborah Levy novelist
Doreen Mantle British Actress
Elize du Toit British Actress
Eric Abraham producer and former journalist
Frances Rivett-Carnac British sailor, Olympic gold medalist
Frank Osborne England Footballer with 4 caps and 3 goals between 1922 and 1926
Gordon Hodgson England Footballer with 3 caps and 1 goal between 1930 and 1931, 241 goals for Liverpool FC
Ian Greig England Cricketer in 1982
Jaco van Gass British Paralympic Cyclist, Paralympic Champion
Jade Dernbach England Cricketer between 2011 and 2014
Jason Roy England Cricketer from 2014
Jenny Runacre British actress
Johan Steyn Judge and peer
John Hewie Scotland Footballer with 19 caps and 2 goals between 1956 and 1960
Jonathan Trott England Cricketer between 2007 and 2015
J. R. R. Tolkien British Author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and World War 1 veteran
Justin Rose English Golfer, Major winner, Olympic champion and former world number one
Justine Waddell British producer and former actress
Keaton Jennings England Cricketer from 2016
Keri-anne Payne British Swimmer, two time world champion and Olympic silver medalist
Kevin Pietersen England Cricketer between 2004 and 2014
Kyle Edmund British Tennis Player and world number 14
Lillian Board British middle-distance runner and Olympic silver medalist
Mark Shuttleworth British Millionaire
Michael Lumb England Cricketer between 2010 and 2014
Mike Catt England Rugby Union player, 2003 World Cup winner
Matt Prior England Cricketer between 2004 and 2014
Neil Broad British tennis player, former British number one and Olympic silver medalist
Natalie Steward British swimmer, Olympic silver and bronze medalist
Nicky Hambleton-Jones British Television Presenter
Oti Mabuse dancer
Peter Hain British Politician
Prue Leith restaurateur and television personality
Quintin Brand Second World War Royal Air Force Officer
Reg Osborne England Footballer with 1 cap in 1927
Richard Mason novelist
Robin Smith England Cricketer between 1988 and 1996
Ronald Harwood British Playwright
Rupert Obholzer British rower and Olympic bronze medalist
Sid James British Actor
Simon Lessing British triathlete
Stuart Abbott England Rugby Union player, 2003 World Cup winner
Stuart Meaker England Cricketer between 2011 and 2012
Teignmouth Melvill British polo player, Olympic gold medalist
Tom Curran England Cricketer from 2017
Tony Greig England Cricketer between 1972 and 1977
Vanessa Zachos actress
William Rawson England Footballer with 2 appearances between 1875 and 1877
Zola Budd British distance runner and Olympian

British people of South African ancestry

NameOccupationLink
Christian Bale actorSouth African father
Ben Barnes actorSouth African mother
Kegs Chauke footballerSouth African parents
Joan Collins actress, author and columnistSouth African father
Jackie Collins novelistSouth African father
Emma Corrin actressSouth African mother
Hector Janse van Rensburg painter and cartoonistSouth African father
Asanda Jezile singerSouth African parents
Natasha Kaplinsky news presenterSouth African father of Polish descent
Andrew Lincoln actor, directorSouth African mother
Gugu Mbatha-Raw actressSouth African father
Sienna Miller actress, model, and fashion designerSouth African mother
Sem Moema politicianSouth African parents
James Musa FootballerSouth African parents
Malachi Napa footballerSouth African mother
Daniel Radcliffe actorSouth African mother
Anna Shaffer actressSouth African parents
Dan Smith singerSouth African parents
Savannah Steyn actressSouth African descent
David Suchet actorSouth African father
Ellora Torchia actressSouth African mother
Hannah van der Westhuysen actressSouth African father
Andy Zaltzman comedian, radio personalitySouth African father

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References

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  10. "Census Maps".