PATTINSON
Pattinson is a patronymic surname of English origin, constructed from the personal name Patrick, itself sourced from the Latin Patricius meaning “noble” or “patrician”. The suffix -son indicates descent, so the name literally translates to “son of Patrick”. The formation of the surname reflects a common medieval naming convention in the British Isles where a child was identified by the name of his father.
The earliest extant records of the name in the British Isles appear in the 15th century. The 1446 entry of William Patrison in the Episcopal Register of Aberdeen, Scotland, is the first documented instance. Earlier examples from Scotland include John Patonson in Aberdeen in 1446, Donald Patryson, a burgess of Aberdeen in 1495, and George Paterson, a monk in the monastery of Culross in 1569. These records signify that the surname was established in both England’s north and in Scotland during the late medieval period.
In England, bearing records show that the surname is most concentrated in the northern counties of Cumberland and Northumberland, with subsequent dispersion across the country. The name’s prevalence can be attributed to the influence of St. Patrick in the 5th century, whose cult spread throughout Ireland, Scotland and the north of England, encouraging the use of his forename as the basis for many patronymics.
Variations of the surname arise from regional accents, orthographic practices and the use of alternate diminutives of Patrick. Common variants include Pattison, Patisson, Patison and Paterson. Some families also adopted shorter forms such as Paton, Patten, Patton or Patt, or incorporated diminutive suffixes such as Pattinson and Pattenson. The diversity of spellings reflects the fluid nature of medieval spelling and the absence of a fixed standard.
While the surname is not among the most common in contemporary records—falling outside the top one thousand surnames in countries like the United States and Australia—it has maintained a distinct presence in the United Kingdom and has also spread to other English‑speaking nations, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, by immigration during the modern era.
Noteworthy bearers of the surname include individuals who have entered public record for various reasons. For instance, Emma Anne Paterson, who founded the Women’s Protective and Provident League in 1874, was the first woman admitted to the Trade Union Congress in 1875; although her surname is listed as Paterson rather than Pattinson, it demonstrates the close connection between the two family names.
In recent years, the surname has attracted broader attention due to the prominence of English actor Robert Pattinson. His international visibility has, however, not altered the historical etymology or the established distribution of the name.
Typical given names associated with the Pattinson surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
- Thomas
Female
- Debra
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Pattinson in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Pattinson are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Fig roll.
There are approximately 4,801 people named Pattinson in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,964th most common surname in Britain. Around 74 in a million people in Britain are named Pattinson.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Pattinson
- Robert Pattinson - Actor
- Les Pattinson - Bassist
- Darren Pattinson - Cricketer
- Robert Pattinson - Politician (1872 to 1954)
- Lewy Pattinson - Businessmn (1852 to 1944)
- Poppy Pattinson - Football player
- Hugh Lee Pattinson - Industrial chemist (1796 to 1858)
- Cyrus Ramone Pattinson - Boxer
- Bill Pattinson - Rugby league football player
- Christopher Pattinson - Canadian politician (1885 to 1958)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.