botha

Botha is a surname of Afrikaans origin that is most commonly found among South Africans of Afrikaner heritage. The name is widely associated with historical and political figures in South Africa and is recognized as part of the country’s Afrikaner naming tradition. While its precise etymology is not always specified in general reference sources, Botha is established as a distinct surname in the region.

Notable individuals with the surname include Louis Botha (1862–1919), a Boer general who became the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa after its formation in 1910 and played a leading role in shaping early governance of the new federation. Pieter Willem (P. W.) Botha (1916–2006) served as prime minister from 1978 to 1984 and as state president from 1984 to 1989, during the later years of apartheid, a period marked by conservative policy and limited reform attempts.

Today the surname remains prevalent in South Africa and among the South African diaspora. It is primarily encountered in historical and political contexts related to the country and is less common as a given name. The name continues to appear in discussions of South African history, culture, and genealogical studies of Afrikaner families.