Hankey is a small town on the confluence of the Klein and Gamtoos rivers in South Africa.

Some descendants used Alers as part of their surnames, including Captain Conrad Byron Alers-Hankey, Royal Navy (who helped rescue HMS Calcutta when the 1926 Havana–Bermuda hurricane struck the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda in 1926, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his conduct at the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk),[3][4] while others used it as a forename, such as Alexander Maurice Alers Hankey and brothers Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey (the creator of the modern UK Cabinet Office) and Donald William Alers Hankey.

The purpose of the establishment of the village was to grow mielies and corn for the LMS main station at Bethelsdorp and also to carry out evangelistic work.

The first inhabitants consisted of a large number of Khoi, a few Mfengos, a few farmers and mixed "Gamtouer" (1700) descendants.

Some of the residents were Windvogel, Diederich, Abraham, Stuurman, Dragoonder, Armoed, Scheepers, Mahtjies, Gerts, Matroos, Konstabel and Kettledas.

What the papers said about the opening of the scheme on the Klein Rivier: "......the course swung into action sending streams of water down its winding length ....." People came from far and wide to view the spectacle and Dr Philip later declared it the greatest work of its kind ever undertaken in the Colony.

[6][7] On 19 August 2002, the remains of Saartjie Baartman were laid to rest on Vergaderingskop, a hill on the edge of town.