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 or (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) Roger Prideaux (born 1939), English cricketer Roger Prideaux (MP) (by 1524 – 1582), MP for Totnes (1545–1553) Sarah Prideaux (1853–1933), bookbinder and author Walter Prideaux (1806–1889), English poet and lawyer Walter Prideaux, banker and partner in Hingston & Prideaux Walter Prideaux (rower), 1910–1995), English rower Families Prideaux baronets, family 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". In fiction Jim Prideaux, a mid-level British intelligence agent in John le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974) See also Hingston & Prideaux Footnotes Cornish-language surnames