Prideaux (surname)

Prideaux is a surname of Cornish origin derived from the place called Prideaux in the parish of Luxulyan. The place-name had the form Pridias in the 12th and 13th centuries; however by folk etymology both the place-name and the surname have been altered to a form based on the French près d'eaux or pré d'eaux (near waters or meadow of waters).

It may refer to

Individuals

 * Brandon Prideaux (born 1976), an American soccer defender
 * Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet of Netherton (1554–1628), English lawyer
 * Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet of Ford Abbey (died 1659), English lawyer and MP for Lyme Regis (1640–1659), solicitor-general and attorney-general
 * Sir Edmund Prideaux, 2nd Baronet of Ford Abbey (1632–1702), member of Parliament for Taunton (1680–1681), participant in Monmouth's Rebellion
 * Edmund Prideaux (artist) (1693–1745), English architectural artist
 * Humphrey Prideaux (1648–1724), Doctor of Divinity and scholar
 * James Prideaux (1927–2015), American playwright
 * John Prideaux (British Army officer) (1718–1759), British General during the French and Indian War
 * John Prideaux (1578–1650), bishop of Worcester
 * Sir Peter Prideaux, 3rd Baronet (1626–1705), MP for Honiton (1661–1679) and St Mawes (1685–1689)
 * Rhiannon Prideaux, Human rights worker
 * Roger Prideaux (born 1939), English cricketer
 * Roger Prideaux (MP) (by 1524–1582), MP for Totnes (1545–1553)
 * Sarah Prideaux (1853–1933), bookbinder and author
 * Frances Helen Prideaux (1858–1885), British physician and student at the London School of Medicine for Women
 * Walter Prideaux (1806–1889), English poet and lawyer
 * Walter Prideaux, banker and partner in Hingston & Prideaux
 * Walter Prideaux (rower) (1910–1995), English rower
 * W. F. Prideaux (1840-1914), scholar

Families
The ancient gentry family of Prideaux was seated variously at Orcheton, Modbury; Adeston, Holbeton; Thuborough, Sutcombe; Soldon, Holsworthy; Netherton, Farway; Ashburton; Nutwell, Woodbury; Ford Abbey, Thorncombe all in Devon, and at Prideaux Place, Padstow and Prideaux manor, Luxulyan, in Cornwall. Fox (1874) stated in regard of the Kingsbridge branch of Prideaux: "We have no intention ... of tracing the pedigree back to old Paganus de Prideaux, who came over from Normandy with William the Conqueror, and who was Lord of the Castle of Prideaux, in Cornwall".
 * Prideaux baronets, family

In fiction

 * Jim Prideaux, a mid-level British intelligence agent in John le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974)