Surname Pretorius - Meaning and Origin
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Pretorius: What does the surname Pretorius mean?
The last name Pretorius is a Germanic and Dutch patronymic surname which originated from the name Peter. The surname Pretorius is derived from a given name, originally meaning “father of Peter.”
It is believed that members of the Pretorius family descend from the chief of the Pierter clan and first became Pretorius when they adopted the surname in the Netherlands in the 12th century.
The Pretorius family was among the earliest inhabitants of the Netherlands and the early Pretorius settlers were a mixture of people from France, Germany, and Holland. They were known to be a prominent and influential family throughout their entire history.
The term Pretorius is derived from the Latin word praetori, which means leader or ruler. Therefore, those bearing the name Pretorius may be thought of as brave and courageous. It is also believed that the Pretorius family was adept at fishing, although it is not known if this is a direct result of their name.
Today, people with the surname Pretorius can be found throughout the world, especially in Europe, South Africa, and the United States of America. In South Africa, the Pretorius’ were among the earliest settlers and played a prominent role in the establishment of the South African Republic.
Despite being a surname of Germanic and Dutch origin, the Pretorius family legacy can be seen and felt all over the world. From fishing to bravery and courage, Pretorius is a surname that will live forever as a symbol of the influential and proud tradition that the last name has been associated with for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisPretorius: Where does the name Pretorius come from?
The surname Pretorius is known to be a particularly South African family name. It can be found in abundance throughout the country today and is particularly prevalent in Afrikaner families. However, Pretorius is not a strictly South African name as it has spread to other parts of the world as Afrikaners have migrated.
In countries like the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, and even parts of the United Kingdom, the surname Pretorius is still found in relatively large numbers, with people traceable back to their South African roots. Similarly, records of Pretorius descendants can also be found in France, Germany, Canada, and other places where Afrikaners were once known to have lived.
The name Pretorius itself is believed to have originally come from the Dutch "pretor," which means a legal officer of justice. In Dutch, the spelling for the surname is "Pretorius." As the name travelled to other countries and cultures, it has been altered and assimilated over the centuries to become "Pratty," "Pretorius," "Petrus," "Bedros," and other similar sounding versions.
Today, Pretorius remains an exceedingly influential name in South Africa, and it is also often found amongst descendants living in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Pretorius
Pretorius is a surname of Dutch, Afrikaans, and German origin. It is a version of the Latin word 'praetor', which translates to 'leader'. It is common in South Africa, where most bearers are of Dutch or Afrikaan descent.
Variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Pretorius include:
• Pretorius (Dutch, Afrikaans, German)
• Pretore (Italian)
• Pretori (Latvian)
• Pretor (Estonian)
• Pretorien (English)
• Pretório (Portuguese)
• Pretoriusz (Polish)
• Pretorij (Croatian)
• Pretorov (Russian)
• Prettori (Italian)
• Pratorius (French)
• Prétori (French)
• Preture (English)
• Prettery (English)
• Pretteur (French)
• Pretaria (English)
• Pretorios (Filipino, Spanish)
• Prutariaux (French)
• Prétaire (French)
• Prétel (French)
• Pretorienz (German)
• Pretoriuses (Dutch, German)
• Pretorienks (Dutch, German)
• Pretoriks (German)
• Pretoriusen (Dutch, German)
• Pretory (English)
• Pretoranski (Polish)
• Pretorján (Hungarian)
• Pretříský (Czech)
• Pretorii (Romanian)
• Pretot (English)
• Pretotian (English)
• Pruatro (Spanish)
• Pretro (English)
• Pretoriuszyn (Polish)
• Pretóry (Slovakian)
• Pretoriusova (Czech)
• Prétor (Portuguese).
The surnames Pretorius and Pretorios are also found among some Hispanic families, particularly in Latin America, derived from the given name "Pedro". Furthermore, it is seen as Frenchified version of the Prater family of Germany.
In South Africa, the surname is relatively common and is most frequently associated with the Afrikaner people. It is also seen among Dutch families who first arrived in South Africa during the early 1600s.
Famous people with the name Pretorius
- Andries Pretorius (1798-1853): He was a Boer leader who was highly involved in the South African wars for independence.
- Deneys Reitz (1882–1944): He was a soldier, lawyer, diplomatic and journalist. He was the son of the first state president of the South African Republic, Thomas Francois Burgers and granddaughter of Andries Pretorius.
- Joubert Pretorius (1930-2012): He was a South African actor, best known for his roles in domestic comedy series such as 'Pasella' and ' Generations'. He was a founder member of the South African Academy of Arts and Science.
- P.W. Botha (1916-2006): He was the sixth Prime Minister of South Africa and later served as the eighth State President from 1984 to 1989. His political career was built on his alliance with Andries Pretorius.
- Danie Pretorius (1912-2002): He was a South African footballer, who captained the South African national team in 1938.
- Percival FitzRandolph Pretorius (1894-1961): He was a prominent Afrikaner nationalist, lawyer, and physicist who was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of South Africa in 1949.
- Carel Willem Pretorius (1819-1853): He was a Boer leader commanding a commando in the Kaffir Wars.
- Japie Pretorius (1921-1973): He was a South African cricketer who played for Boland cricket team.
- P.J. Pretorius (1920-1994): He was a South African architect best known for his works which led to the development of Pretoria as the capital city of the country.
- Mimi Coertse (1932-): She is a South African classical soprano who has worked in opera the world over including the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. She adopted the stage name Mimi Coerste-Pretorius.