The settlement is named after
Frans Fredrick of the ǁKhauǀgoan (
Swartbooi Nama) who was on an exploration mission to find suitable land to settle. He found the spring which is still the main water supply of the village today. In 1880 people settled in this area. After the proclamations of land confiscation following the end of the
Herero Wars in 1904, land in the area was set aside for the Swartbooi Nama clan. Fransfontein is still the main settlement of the clan and houses its current traditional leadership authority, the
Swartbooi Traditional Authority. ==References==