Petronilla is a Late Latin feminine given name. The name is a diminutive form of Petronia, itself the feminine form of Petronius, a Roman family name. Saint Petronilla is an early Roman saint, later interpreted as the daughter of Saint Peter. She became the patron saint of the Frankish kings, and her chapel became the burial place for French kings.
The derived form Petronella, later changed to Pieternella, has been popular in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages, perhaps due to Gertrude, Countess of Holland, adopting this name around 1100.popularity
an
explanation
at the Meertens Institute's database of given names in the Netherlands. In daily life, many people with this given name use a short form, like Petra, Nel, Nelleke,

Nelly Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He embarked on his music career with the hip hop group St. Lunatics in 1993 and signed to Universal ...

, ''Ella'', ''Ellen'', and ''Elly''. People called Petronilla: * Saint Petronilla, venerated by the 4th century *Petronilla (9th century), daughter of

Hugh, son of Charlemagne Hugh or Hugo (802–844) was the illegitimate son of Charlemagne and his concubine Regina, with whom he had one other son: Bishop Drogo of Metz (801–855). Along with Drogo and his illegitimate half-brother Theodoric, Hugh was tonsured and sent fr ...

, and mother of Ingelger of Anjou *

Petronilla of Lorraine Petronilla of Lorraine ( 1082 – 23 May 1144) was Countess of Holland by marriage to Floris II, Count of Holland, and regent of the County of Holland during the minority of her son Dirk VI in 1121-1129. She was a daughter of Theodoric II, Duke ...

(c. 1082 – 1144), Countess of Holland *

Petronilla of Aragon Petronilla (29 June/11 August 1136 – 15 October 1173), whose name is also spelled Petronila or Petronella ( Aragonese: ''Peyronela'' or ''Payronella'', and ca, Peronella), was Queen of Aragon from the abdication of her father, Ramiro II, ...

(died 1173) * Petronilla of Aquitaine (died before 1152) *

Petronilla, Countess of Bigorre Petronilla of Bigorre or Petronilla of Comminges ( 1184 – 1251) was ruling Countess of Bigorre between 1194 and 1251. She was the only child of Bernard IV, Count of Comminges, and his wife Stephanie-Beatrice IV, Countess of Bigorre. Petronilla ...

(c. 1184 – 1251) *

Petronilla de Meath Petronilla de Meath (c. 1300 – 3 November 1324) was the maidservant of Dame Alice Kyteler, a Hiberno-Norman noblewoman who lived in Ireland in what is now County Kilkenny. After the death of Kyteler's fourth husband, Kyteler was accused of pra ...

(died 1324), Irish maidservant executed for heresy People called Petronella: *

Petronella of Coutrai Petronella of Courtrai (Petronille) (? — after 1214) was a Dutch regent and noblewoman. She ruled during the absence of her husband and after he died, during the minority of her son. She was a daughter of a woman named Sarah and her husband, lo ...

(

fl. ''Floruit'' (; abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for "they flourished") denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indicatin ...

1200–1214), regent of Flanders *

Petronella Barker (actress, born 1942) Petronella Barker (born 12 October 1942 in Sittingbourne, Kent) is an English actress. Life The daughter of the comedy actor Eric Barker and the actress Pearl Hackney, she grew up in the village of Stalisfield, Kent, and was educated at Ashford ...

, British actress *

Petronella Barker (actress, born 1965) Petronella Barker (born 29 October 1965) is a British-born Norwegian actress. She was born in Colchester, England, but grew up in Fredrikstad, Norway. While still studying at the Theatre Academy in Oslo (1985–1988), she had her debut in th ...

, British-born Norwegian actress * Petronella J.M.G. "Elly" Blanksma-van den Heuvel (born 1959), Dutch politician and banker * Petronella T.M. "Ellen" Bontje (born 1958), Dutch equestrian *

Petronella Bos Petronella Johanna Maria "Nel" Bos (born 23 November 1947) is a retired swimmer from the Netherlands. She competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games ...

(born 1947), Dutch swimmer * Petronella "Nel" Büch (1931–2013), Dutch sprinter *

Petronella Burgerhof Petronella "Nel" Burgerhof (6 December 1908 – 15 September 1991) was a Dutch gymnast who won the gold medal as member of the Dutch gymnastics team in the 1928 Summer Olympics. In 1931 Burgerhorf married Toon Houtschild in her hometown ...

(1908–1991), Dutch gymnast and Olympic gold medallist *

Petronella de la Court Petronella de la Court (born 24 August 1624 in Leiden, South Holland - died 22 March 1707 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch art collector. De la Court married her cousin, the silk merchant Adam Oortmans, on 24-8-1649 in Leiden, and they had 10 children t ...

(1624–1707), Dutch art collector * Auguste van Pels (1900–1945), called Petronella van Daan in Anne Frank's diary *

Petronella Duncan Petronella Duncan is a South African politician, a former Member of Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (polit ...

, South African politician and Member of Parliament with the Democratic Alliance *

Petronella Dunois Petronella Dunois (1650–1695) was a Dutch art collector, known for her dollhouse in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Life Dunois lived with her sister Maria in Amsterdam after her parents died. Both sisters were rich and commissioned their own ...

(1650–1695), Dutch art collector *

Petronella Ekroth Hilda Petronella Ekroth (born 12 December 1989) is a Swedish footballer who plays as a defender. Club career Ekroth started her football career in the Damallsvenskan playing for Djurgårdens IF. She followed this with years at Linköpings FC ...

(born 1989), Swedish footballer * Petronella F.C. "Nel" Garritsen (1933–2014), Dutch swimmer *

Petronella Huybrechtse Petronella Margaretha "Petra" Huybrechtse (born 26 September 1972) is a retired Dutch sprinter. She competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the 4×100 m relay, but her team failed to reach the final. The same year she won national titles in the ...

(born 1972), Dutch sprinter *

Petronella de Jong Petronella Catharina de Jong (born 26 July 1970 in Sint Jacobiparochie) is a sailor from the Netherlands. De Jong represented her country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. With helmsman Annelies Thies and fellow crew member Annemieke Bes D ...

(born 1970), Dutch Olympic sailor *

Petronella Moens Petronella Moens (16 November 1762 – 4 January 1843) was a blind Dutch writer, editor, and feminist. She managed a paper in 1788–1797, in which she spoke for political issues such as slavery and women suffrage. Biography Petronella Moens w ...

(1762–1843), Dutch writer, editor and feminist *

Petronella Muns Petronella Muns (21 January 1794, The Hague – 13 May 1842, The Hague) was one of the first Western women to set foot in Japan. She was the servant of Titia Bergsma, the wife of Jan Cock Blomhoff, and wet nurse to the Blomhoffs' infant son. Blomh ...

(1794–1842), Dutch servant, one of the first Western women in Japan *

Petronella Oortman Petronella Oortman (; 1656–1716) was a Dutch woman whose elaborate dollhouse is part of the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Petronella Oortman should not be confused with her close namesake Petronella Oortmans-de la Cour ...

(1656–1716), Dutch art collector * Petronella W.C. "Nelleke" Penninx (born 1971), Dutch rower * Pieternella C. "Elly" Plooij-van Gorsel (born 1947), Dutch Member of the European Parliament *

Petronella van Randwijk Petronella "Nel" Phillemina Johanna van Randwijk (14 September 1905 – 21 September 1978) was a Dutch gymnast. She won the gold medal as member of the Dutch gymnastics team at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. She was born in Utrecht ...

(1905–1978), Dutch gymnast * Petronella J. "Nelly" de Rooij (1883–1964), Dutch zoologist and herpetologist * Petronella G. "Nel" Roos-Lodder (1914–1996), Dutch discus thrower *

Petronella Melusine von der Schulenburg Petronilla Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham, Countess of Chesterfield (1 April 1693 – 16 September 1778) was the natural daughter of King George I of Great Britain and his longtime mistress, Melusine von der Schulenbur ...

(1693–1778), Countess of Walsingham *

Petra van Staveren Petronella ("Petra") Grietje van Staveren (born 2 June 1966) is a former breaststroke swimmer from the Netherlands who won the gold medal in the 100 meter breaststroke at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los � ...

(born 1966), Dutch swimmer *

Petronella Tshuma Petronella Tshuma (born 13 January 1990) is a South African actress. She won Most Promising Actor at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards. She also received a Golden horn best actress in a leading role nomination for her role in ''Of Good Repo ...

(born 1990), South African actress *

Petronella van Vliet Petronella "Nel" van Vliet (17 January 1926 – 4 January 2006) was a breaststroke swimmer from the Netherlands. She won gold medals in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1947 European Aquatics Championships and 1948 Summer Olympics. In 1973, ...

(1926–2006), Dutch swimmer * Petronella van Woensel (1785–1839), Dutch painter *

Petronella Wyatt Petronella "Petsy" Aspasia Wyatt (born 6 May 1968) is a British journalist and author. Most recently, she has described herself as an ornamental fountain. Early life and education Wyatt was born on 6 May 1968 at 12 Devonshire Street, West Lond ...

(born 1968), British journalist and author *

Petronella Zwier Petronella Veronica Maria "Nel" Zwier (29 August 1936 – 8 October 2001) was a Dutch high jumper. She competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics and finished in ninth place. In 1959 she won the Amateur Athletic Association of England The Amateur A ...

(1936–2001), Dutch high jumper ;Fictional characters *

Petronella Osgood UNIT stands for United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, a fictional entity in ''Doctor Who''. UNIT first appeared in the Second Doctor serial ''The Invasion (Doctor Who), The Invasion'', (1968), although Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Alistair Go ...

, a ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

'' character

References

{{given name Dutch feminine given names