The Boerboel has a history as one of the outstanding dogs of Africa. They a large working molosser breed of dog from South Africa. The word "boerboel" derives from "boer", the Afrikaans/Dutch word for "farmer", boerboel thus translates as either "farmer's dog" or "Boer's dog" in Afrikaans/Dutch. There is a lengthy history of breeding in South Africa, where the dog was bred with the purpose of guarding the homestead.

While it is uncertain from which breeds the dog originated, it is generally accepted that the dog derived from interbreeding of indigenous African species with breeds brought from Dutch, French and British settlers. The Boerboel, the only South African dog bred to defend the homestead, has a long history of breeding in many different regions of South Africa. Despite this long history of breeding, the dogs refinement continues to date. Regional differences, however slight, are considered part of the makeup of the breed. While there is ample literature on the Boerboel’s descent, there is still uncertainty as to how many and which dogs it was bred from. The most likely origins claimed to date back to Jan van Riebeeck’s arrival to the Cape in 1652. It has been confirmed that van Riebeeck brought a “bullenbiter” with him. Others with him also had large, strong dogs. A likely breeding partner brought in by the British settlers would have been the long legged Bulldog (more or less an American Bulldog today).
In protest to British rule, the Dutch (early white South African colonists) scattered hundreds of kilometers from their original homes, in what is historically recorded as the Great Trek. During this period they continued breeding powerful, protective dogs on their journeys, perhaps to hunt lions.
The tradition of breeding with large dogs continued during the Second Boer War. In some literature more types of dogs have been suggested to be included in the breed, but none of these claims have been substantiated. However, the Rhodesian Ridgeback and its descendants are known to have played a significant part, though no sign of a ridge is present in the modern Boerboel. Today Boerboel breeding is both a hobby and an industry in South Africa. These dogs are now exported from South Africa to other parts of the world.