A interesting history is to be found among the Malan families, who originate from the Waldesian Valleys, in the Piedmont Region of north-west Italy. The Waldesian Protestant religion, one of the earlist recorded, was founded by Pierre Valdot, a wealthy merchant of Lyon in France, who one day decided to sell all his worldly possessions, and become a street preacher, in 1170. Finally he was ordered to leave the city, for preaching without the necessary permission by the Roman Catholic Church.He continued preaching and was accepted by the ancient religious movements of the time like the Cathcars and Abegensis, even though they differed in opinion from one another. Finally in 1177 he reached the Waldesian Valleys, 40 kilometers west of the Regional Capital of Turin, founding the Protestant Movement there, which resulted of continious persecution until the 17th Century. So terrible were these persecutions, especially the one known as the ''Piedmontese Easters'', where 7,000 Waldesians were murdered, the reamaining 2,000 having to flee across the border to Switzerland, where they regrouped and fought back, regaining their lost lands in the Waldesian Valleys, but denied religious freedom until 1847, only receiving civil freedom.
In 1688 aboard the ship the ''Bergchina'', with French Hugeneot Protestants who had fled due to religious persecution by the Cathiolics, were Jacques Malan and Jean Jourdan and their families. Jacques a bachelor, was to be the only survivor of his family to arrive safely at Cape Town, South Africa - the other members had died at sea.Jean and Jacques were friends, both of Waldesian descent having being born at ''Cabieres-d'Aigues'' and ''Merindol'', there forefathers having fled the valleys generations before, settling in these areas which were French controlled, and where their religion was more toreable. The Waldesian because they spoke a French dialect called ''Patoit'', were settled with the French Hugeneots at the ''Wagonmakers Valley'', outside the town of Wellington , and in the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek(French Corner)areas becoming farmers.Later Jean Jourdan became the owner of the farm ''La Motte'', while his brother Pierre, acquired the farm ''Cabriere'', marrying Anne Fouche, from a Waldesian descended family. In 1699 Jean Jourdan died, and shortly thereafter his wife Isabeau le Long, with four children married Jacques Malan.In 1719 Jacques sold ''La Motte'', and acquired the farm ''Morgenster''(Morning Star) Together another 7 children were born. From this marriage the Malan family in South Africa boasts of over 7,000 members, with additional family related members from the Jourdan(Jordaan) family. To-day hardly a family in South Africa are not in someway or other related to them.
Dr. Hercules Malan, of the ''Malan Family Association'', has done excellent research in South Africa, and discovered other Malan families in Uruquay,Brazil,United States of America,The Netherlands,England,Switzerland,France,Italy, and Australia who had either fled with fellow Waldesians to these countries during the time of religious persecution or later.In the year 2000 he was able to bring representatives all these Malan families together at the main town of Torre Pelice in the Waldesian Valleys, where each one announced their family history to the guests who were present at the Hotel Gilley, which was also owned by a Malan.In 2009 Dr. Hercules Malan apart from knowing about the ''Waldesian History Museum '' at Torre Pelice, discovered another in the well known Black Forest in Germany. Here too Waldesians had fled, and other communities have been noted in Hungary and Poland.
Half of the total population of Waldesians live in the Waldesian Valleys to-day. There religion has formed partnerships with the United Methodist Church of Itay,the Baptist and Lutheran Church, making a total congregation of 30,000 members. Some 15,000 Waldesians are to be found in South America, the church in Uruquay being built by Diego Malan.The Waldesian ministry is based on the Presbyterian System to-day,with Pastors and Layman. Other Malan family members in Italy who have made their mark on society are Bartolomeo Malan, who brought the Protestant message to the centre of Rome. To-day the Waldesian Theological College is to be found there.Rinaldo Malan who in the 1900's , who created a small mission station first in Cairo and later in Alexandria in Egypt. Roberto and Frida Malan who participated in the partisan war during World War 11 against facism. Frida is still alive to-day. To all these Edmondo Malan, one of the pioneers of heart medical research and specialization can be added, giving his name to a ''Heart Surgery Centre'', near Milan.
For earlier accounts of the Waldesian History the book on ''Google'' on the internet entilted ''Legends Vallee Vaudois'', by Professor Jalla, can be refered in particular interest of the account of Pastor Jourdan.Another is ''www.fondazione.valdese.org''.The history of the Waldesian Community in America of Valdese, North Carolina, gives the hardships these refugees faced in their newly adopted countries.What has found to be amazing is that they never have lost their family ties, keeping them through hundreds of years that have passes to the present times, and remaining as committed as ever to their Protesteant religion.