Botha is a common Afrikaans surname, derived from the Friso-Saxon Both. It was brought to South Africa in 1678 by German soldiers who subsequently intermarried with the local Dutch population. Botha roughly translates to "son of the leader" in Middle Dutch.
The progenitors of the extended clan are Frederich Botha (born Wangenheim, Thuringia) and his lover Maria Kickers (born Amsterdam, North Holland). Married in 1714, they later farmed for a living between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Today, their legal descendants number around 76,125 people, including:
Adriaan Botha, South African sprinterAndre Botha (bodyboarder) (born 1980), South African bodyboarderAndre Botha (cricketer) (born 1975), South African-born Irish cricketerAndries Botha, Khoikhoi leader in the Cape ColonyAnthony Greyvensteyn Botha, South African cricketerArno Botha, South African rugby playerBernado Botha, South African rugby playerBeverly Botha, South African female cricketerBrendon James Botha, South African rugby playerCornelius Botha, South African politicianChrysander Botha, Namibian rugby playerDanila Botha, South African-born Canadian novelistDewald Botha, South African cricketerDawid Botha, Namibian cricketerFrancois Botha, South African boxerGary Botha, South African rugby playerHannah Botha, South African actressHeidi Botha, South African fencerHendrik Egnatius "Naas" Botha, South African rugby playerJohan Botha (athlete) (born 1974), South African middle distance runnerJohan Botha (cricketer) (born 1982), South African off spin bowlerJohan Botha (tenor) (1965–2016), opera singerJohn Philip "Bakkies" Botha, South African rugby playerLeon Botha, South African artist and progeria victimLukas "Luki" Botha, South African Formula One driverMike Botha, South African-born master diamond cutterMouritz Botha, South African rugby playerPiet Botha, South African rock musicianRiaan Botha, South African pole vaulterRoelof Botha, South African account, former PayPal chief financial officerRoelof Frederik "Pik" Botha, South African politician and diplomatRuan Botha, South African rugby playerSandra Botha, South African diplomat and ambassadorStoffel Botha, South African politicianTheo Botha, South African shareholder activistThozamile Botha, South African politicianTom Botha, South African rugby playerTyler Botha, South African skeleton racerWendy Botha, South African-born Australian surferDescendants of Ferdinandùs Appel
Prior to her marriage to Frederich Botha, Maria Kickers had an out-of-wedlock child fathered by Ferdinandùs Appel, another Hollander from an Amsterdam family. This child, a son named Theunis, was later adopted by the Bothas. His descendants include:
Louis Botha (1862–1919), first Prime Minister of South Africa, often referred to as "General Botha"Pieter Willem "P.W." Botha (1916–2006), South African prime minister from 1978 to 1984 and state president from 1984 to 19891354 Botha, asteroidAnna Elizabeth Botha (née Rossouw), former South African first ladyBlackburn Botha, Royal Air Force]reconnaissance aircraftBotha, Alberta, Canadian settlement in AlbertaBotha Sigcau, former President of TranskeiBotha's Hill, South African settlement in KwaZulu-NatalBotha's lark (Spizocorys fringillaris), a South African larkGunther Botha, South African mercenary in Matthew Reilly's Area 7Jaapie Botha, fictional South African Police officer in the film The Power of OneKarl Botha, fictional counterfeiter from Pepetela's novelsMutro Botha, assassin in the television series Batman BeyondLouis Botha Avenue, Johannesburg streetRegiment Botha, South African Army unitSAST General Botha, South African warship