Convert South African Morgen to Square Yard easily.

Ever stumbled upon an old land deed mentioning "Morgens" and wondered how it translates to modern terms? You’re not alone. The South African Morgen, a relic of colonial-era measurements, still pops up in historical documents and rural discussions. Converting it to Square Yards bridges the gap between past and present, especially for real estate enthusiasts or historians. Let’s unravel this unit’s story and its practical conversion.

Unit definitions

What is a South African Morgen (morgen)?

• Description: A traditional unit of land area used primarily in South Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Symbol: morgen
• Common uses: Measuring farmland and estates in historical records.
• Definition: 1 South African Morgen equals approximately 8565 square meters or 2.1165 acres.

What is a Square Yard (yd²)?

• Description: A standard imperial unit for area, still prevalent in the US, UK, and former British colonies.
• Symbol: yd²
• Common uses: Flooring, textiles, and residential property measurements.
• Definition: 1 Square Yard equals 9 square feet or 0.836127 square meters.

Conversion formula

To convert South African Morgens to Square Yards:
Square Yards = Morgens × 10240

Why 10240? Since 1 Morgen equals 8565 square meters, and 1 Square Yard equals 0.836127 square meters, dividing 8565 by 0.836127 gives approximately 10240.

Example calculations

1. Converting 5 Morgens to Square Yards:
   5 × 10240 = 51,200 yd²
2. Converting 12.5 Morgens to Square Yards:
   12.5 × 10240 = 128,000 yd²

Conversion tables

South African Morgen to Square Yard

Square Yard to South African Morgen

Historical background

The Morgen’s roots trace back to the Dutch settlers who arrived in South Africa in the 17th century. Literally meaning "morning" in Dutch, it originally represented the area a team of oxen could plow in a morning. However, the size varied across regions. In South Africa, it was standardized under British rule to align with imperial systems, though locals kept using it informally for decades. The eventual shift to the metric system in 1974 phased out the Morgen, but its legacy persists in folklore and old land grants. Fun fact, some rural auctions still reference Morgens nostalgically, kind of like how older Brits might talk in acres despite using hectares.

Interesting facts

1. Morning Productivity: A Morgen’s size depended on soil quality. Rocky terrain meant smaller Morgens, while fertile plains allowed larger ones.
2. Dutch Influence: The unit spread to Namibia and Indonesia through Dutch colonization, with slight measurement tweaks.
3. Football Fields: 1 Morgen equals roughly 12 American football fields, including end zones.
4. Taxation Tool: Colonial governments used Morgens to calculate property taxes, leading to occasional disputes over measurements.
5. Metric Shift: South Africa’s metric conversion in 1974 was faster than most African nations, partly to streamline international trade.

FAQ