Petronilla is a Late Latin and Italian feminine given name. It was adapted as Petronella in German, Dutch and Scandinavian. The name is a diminutive of Petronia, itself the feminine form of Petronius, a Roman family name. Saint Petronilla is an early Roman saint, later interpreted as the daughter of Saint Peter. She became the patron saint of the Frankish kings, and her chapel became the burial place for French kings.
People called Petronilla:
Saint Petronilla, venerated by the 4th century
Petronilla (9th century), daughter of Hugh, son of Charlemagne, and mother of Ingelger of Anjou
Petronilla of Aragon (d. 1173)
Petronilla of Aquitaine (d. 1193)
Petronilla, Countess of Bigorre
Petronilla de Meath (d. 1324), Irish maidservant executed for heresy
People called Petronella:
Petronella Barker (actress born 1942), British actress
Petronella Barker (actress born 1965), British-born Norwegian actress
Petronella Burgerhof (1908–1991), Dutch gymnast and Olympic gold medallist
Petronella Duncan, South African politician and Member of Parliament with the Democratic Alliance
Petronella Osgood, Doctor Who character
Petronella van Randwijk (1905–1978), Dutch gymnast
Petronella Melusine von der Schulenburg (1693–1778), Countess of Walsingham
Susan Petronella Thomas (born 1935), Baroness Thomas of Walliswood, British businesswoman and Liberal Democrat politician
Petronella Johanna de Timmerman (1723–1786), Dutch poet and scientist
Alexandrine Petronella Francina Tinne (1835–1869), Dutch explorer in Africa
Petronella van Vliet (1926–2006), breaststroke swimmer from the Netherlands
Petronella Woesthoven (1760–1830), Dutch poet
Petronella Wyatt (born 1968), British journalist and author
Other
Petronella (film), German-Swiss silent film