The village was formally known as Zuurbraak, (meaning “sour Brake” – thicket racket ferns-that still grow plentiful in the wetland area), or Xairu, meaning heavenly place or paradise. The first inhabitants of the area were the Quena. Suurbraak was established as a mission station in 1812 by the Londen Mission Society and later in 1875 taken over by the Algemene Sending Kerk. The original church, parsonage and school date back to 1828 and the cluster of cattages, which line either side of the road was constructed in 1883.