Pretorius is a common

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...

surname. Recorded in several forms (including ''Praetor'', ''Praetorius'', ''Pratorius'', ''Pretorius'', (German), and in English ''Preater'', ''Preter'' and ''Pretor''), Pretorius is a surname of Germanic origins, although the ultimate origin is the Roman (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

) word "praetor". This literally meant "leader", but was used in Imperial Rome to describe officials who led processions, as well as the

Praetorian Guard The Praetorian Guard (Latin: ''cohortēs praetōriae'') was a unit of the Imperial Roman army that served as personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors. During the Roman Republic, the Praetorian Guard were an escort fo ...

, who provided the security for the Senate and the Imperial Roman family. Although apparently first recorded in England several centuries before Germany, which is probably because of lost medieval records, it is rare in England, although now found in some numbers in Austria, Switzerland and South Africa.

People with the surname Pretorius

André Pretorius André Stefan Pretorius (born 29 December 1978 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union footballer that played professionally between 1999 and 2014. His usual position was at fly-half. He has been capped by his count ...

, South African rugby player *

Andries Pretorius Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius (27 November 179823 July 1853) was a leader of the Boers who was instrumental in the creation of the South African Republic, as well as the earlier but short-lived Natalia Republic, in present-day South Africa ...

(1798–1853), Boer leader *

Andries Pretorius (rugby player) Andries Pretorius (born 26 September 1985) is a former Wales international rugby union player who played for Cardiff Blues in the Pro14, Pro12 league and Worcester Warriors in the RFU Championship. He played at Number 8 (rugby union), number 8, ...

, South African rugby player *

Karla Pretorius Karla Pretorius (née Mostert; born 12 March 1990) is a South African netball player, currently playing for the Sunshine Coast Lightning and the South Africa SPAR Proteas Netball. She plays in the positions of Goal Defence (GD) and Wing Defence ...

(1990-) South African and international netballer * Dewald Pretorius, South African cricketer *

Dewald Pretorius (rugby union) Dawid Petrus 'Dewald' Pretorius (born 29 November 1986) is a South African rugby union footballer. He plays mostly as a centre or wing. He most recently represented the in the Currie Cup, having previously played for the , , and . He was a m ...

, South African rugby player * Dwaine Pretorius, South African cricketer *

Frans Pretorius Frans Pretorius (born 31 July 1973) is a South African and Canadian physicist, specializing in computer simulations in astrophysics and numerical solutions of Einstein's field equations. He is professor of physics at Princeton University and direct ...

, South African-born, Canadian physicist * Giovanni Pretorius (1972–2021), South African Olympic boxer *

Hattingh Pretorius Lieutenant General Hattingh Pretorius (1942–2008) was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Army November 1, 1993December 31, 1994. Awards and decorations * * * * * * * * * See also ...

, South African military commander *

Jackie Pretorius Jacobus "Jackie" Pretorius (22 November 1934 – 30 March 2009) was a racing driver from South Africa. He participated in four Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 1 January 1965, and scoring no championship points. Pretorius ...

, racecar driver *

Jaco Pretorius Jaco Pretorius (born 10 December 1979) is a retired South African rugby union outside centre. Biography Pretorius was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1979. He began playing for the Lions in 2001 and served as the Springboks Sevens capta ...

, South African rugby player * Johan Pretorius, South African separatist *

Kosie Pretorius Jacobus Willem Francois Pretorius, commonly known as Kosie Pretorius (5 September 1935 Marianne Pretorius Marianne Schwankhart (born 2 September 1976) is a South African rock climber, specialising in big walls. In 2004 she became the first woman to scale the East face of the Central Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia. In February 2005 she climbe ...

, South African rock climber *

Mark Pretorius Mark Pretorius (born 30 April in Johannesburg, South Africa) is an evangelical theologian, philosopher and metaphysician. He holds the following degrees: a BTh (South African Theological Seminary), a BTh Hons (University of Zululand), an M.A. in ...

, South African theologian and philosopher *

Mark Pretorius (rugby union) Mark Pretorius (born 9 June 1992 in Nelspruit) is a South African rugby union player who most recently played for the . His regular position is hooker. Career Youth and Varsity rugby Pretorius appeared for the at several youth tournaments, ...

, South African rugby player * Marthinus Wessel Pretorius first president of the South African Republic (often known as the Transvaal Republic) and son of Andries *

Nico Pretorius Nicolaas Pretorius (born 29 February 1984) is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played with the . His regular position is prop. Career Blue Bulls He played for the at various youth levels, playing for them at U ...

, South African rugby player * Ryan Pretorius, American football place kicker from South Africa * Sarel Pretorius, South African rugby player *

Spanner Pretorius Johannes Hendrik "Spanner" Pretorius (born 22 October 1987) is a South African rugby union player, who most recently played for . His regular position is loose-forward. Career He played for Potchefstroom-based university side in the 2011 and 20 ...

, South African rugby player *

Trompie Pretorius Jerome "Trompie" Pretorius (born 22 March 1988) is a South African rugby union player who last played for the in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge. Pretorius regularly plays as a centre and has previously represented the , and . In 2 ...

, South African rugby player

Fictional Characters

Doctor Septimus Pretorius Septimus Pretorius is a fictional character who appears in the Universal film ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935). He is played by British stage and film actor Ernest Thesiger. Some sources claim he was originally to have been played by Bela Lugosi or ...

, fictional mad scientist in ''Bride of Frankenstein'' *Edward Pretorius, fictional scientist and main antagonist in the horror film '' From Beyond''

References

{{given name Afrikaans-language surnames