Potgieter is a Germanic occupational surname, equivalent to the English surname Potter.
The Potgieter surname can be traced back to the German provence of Westphalia. The young Potgieter family was formed by a union of a Scandinavian (presumed to be from Eastern Norway) and German family and played a huge role in the medieval development of Westphalia. The family quickly became part of the Westphalian nobility. The first recorded bearer of the surname was Hermann Potgieter.
Later on, the family had started to break into groups due to disputes among the members. Some left with colonists to Namibia and South Africa.
The family had a unique custom among the German nobility, one that involved a family sword. The sword was given to the Champion of the Potgieter family. The first known Champion was Heinn Potgieter (Presumed to be born on 1478, date of death is unknown). The last known Champion was Hendrik Potgieter. The sword was last seen at the founding of Potchefstroom. It is unknown if a current Champion is knighted.
Notable people with the surname include: