Pristichampsus was first described and named as a species of Crocodylus, C. rollinatii, by John Edward Gray in 1831 on the basis of remains from the Lutetian of France. Paul Gervais (1853) assigned this species to its own genus, creating the new combination Pristichampsus rollinatii. Other species have been referred to this genus.
The discovery of Pristichampsus led to its initial classification as a type of Crocodylus, C. rollinatii, by John Edward Gray in 1831 based on fossils from the Lutetian era in France. Later, Paul Gervais (1853) reclassified this species into its own genus, resulting in the new classification Pristichampsus rollinatii. Subsequent discoveries have linked other species to this genus.