Pretorius

Pretorius
Recorded in several forms including Praetor, Praetorius, Pratorius, Pretorius, (German), and in English Preater, Preter and Pretor, this is a surname of Germanic origins although the ultimate origin is the Roman (Latin) word "praetor". This literally meant leader, but was used in Imperial Rome to describe officials who lead processions, as well as the Praetorian Guard who provided the security for the Senate and the Royal 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, and more recently the USA. It is interesting that in defeating the Roman Empire in the 5th century a.d., the victorius Gauls and Vizigoths from what is now Germany, could not wait to absorb the various status and social behaviour of the defeated Romans. Early examples of surname recordings taken from surviving medieval charters and registers include Willemus Pretor in the Danelaw rolls of England in the year 1150, Robertus Preter in the Curia Regis rolls of Gloucestershire in 1208, and in Germany Wolfgang Pratorius of Thamm in 1580.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Pretorius — may mean:*André Pretorius, South African rugby player *Andries Pretorius (1799 1853), Boer leader *Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (1819 1901), his son, first president of the South African Republic: a Boer republic also often known as the Transvaal… …   Wikipedia

  • Pretorius — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: André Pretorius, südafrikanischer Rugby Spieler Andries Pretorius (1798–1853), burischer Politiker und Gründer der Südafrikanischen Republik Jackie Pretorius, südafrikanischer Rennfahrer Marthinus Wessel… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pretorius — Pretorius, Andries Pretorius, Martin …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Pretorĭus — Pretorĭus, Marthinus Wessels, Burenführer, geb. 1818, gest. 19. Mai 1901, Sohn des Andries P. (gest. 1853), der am 16. Dez. 1838 den Suluhäuptling Dingaan geschlagen hatte, war 1857–71 erster Präsident der Südafrikanischen Republik, 1860 bis 1863 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Pretorius — (Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus) (1798 1853) homme politique sud africain. Victorieux des Zoulous à la bataille de Blood River (1838), il fonda la Rép. du Natal (annexée par la G. B.), puis la Rép. du Transvaal. Il donna son nom à la ville de Pretoria …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Pretorius, Andries — ▪ Boer South African leader in full  Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius   born Nov. 27, 1798, near Graaff Reinet, Cape Colony [South Africa] died July 23, 1853, Magaliesberg, Transvaal       Boer leader in the Great Trek from British dominated… …   Universalium

  • Pretorius, Marthinus Wessel — ▪ Boer South African leader born Sept. 17, 1819, near Graaff Reinet, Cape Colony died May 19, 1901, Potchefstroom, South African Republic       Boer statesman, soldier, eldest son of the Great Trek leader Andries Pretorius, and the first… …   Universalium

  • Pretorius, Andries (Wilhelmus Jacobus) — born Nov. 27, 1798, near Graaff Reinet, Cape Colony died July 23, 1853, Magaliesberg, Transvaal Boer leader in the Great Trek. Pretorius s forces defeated the Zulu at Blood River in 1838 and at Magono in 1840. In 1842 he led an unsuccessful fight …   Universalium

  • Pretorius,Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus — Pre·to·ri·us (prĭ tôrʹē əs, tōrʹ ), Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus. 1798 1853. Afrikaner soldier and politician who led the defeat of the Zulus (1838) and negotiated the independence of the Transvaal (1852). His son Marthinus Wessels Pretorius (1819… …   Universalium

  • Pretorius, Andries (Wilhelmus Jacobus) — (27 nov. 1798, cerca de Graaff Reinet, Colonia de El Cabo–23 jul. 1853, Magaliesberg, Transvaal). Líder bóer del Gran Trek. Sus fuerzas derrotaron a los zulúes en Blood River en 1838 y en Magono en 1840. En 1842 dirigió una infructuosa lucha… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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