PETHERICK
The surname Petherick is of English provenance, with its roots ultimately in the Greek name Petros, meaning “rock” or “stone”. The adoption of the English given name Peter from this Greek origin laid the foundation for the family name that later evolved into its current form.
The suffix -ick functions as a diminutive, signalling “son of” or “descendant of”. Hence, Petherick can be understood literally as “son of Peter”. The medieval practice of forming surnames from a father’s first name was widespread in England, and the Petherick name follows this convention.
Common orthographic variants recorded in historic documents include Pethick, Padrick, Petheridge, Pestricke and Pestridge. This pattern of variation points to a Cornish sphere of influence, where the name is associated with the local saint, St Petroc. The saint’s name, in turn, is the Cornish adaptation of the Greek Petros, again meaning “rock”.
The earliest documented utilisation of the family name that can be traced to a definite point in history is the marriage of Thomas Pedricke to Alse Predom at St David's in Exeter, Devon, in 1560, a record made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558 to 1603. Subsequent early parish registers include the 1589 union of Austice Pedrick with Richard Lea at St Andrew's in Plymouth, Devon, the 1632 christening of Richard Potteridge by St Andrews by the Tower in London, and the 1839 christening of Thomes Petheridge, son of Thomas and Hannah, at St Andrew's in Holborn, London.
The Petherick surname, therefore, stands as a testament to the linguistic interweaving of English and Greek influences, the enduring tradition of patronymic naming, and the particular historical tapestry of Cornwall. Records confirm its presence from at least the mid-16th century, and its persistence into the 19th century illustrates a continuous genealogical lineage that remains traceable for contemporary researchers.
Typical given names associated with the Petherick surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Ian
- James
- Jarrard
- John
- Richard
- Robert
- Steve
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elaine
- Emma
- Laura
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Rebecca
- 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 Petherick in...
Braille
⠏⠑⠞⠓⠑⠗⠊⠉⠅
Morse
.--..-......-...-.-.-.-
Semaphore
There are approximately 959 people named Petherick in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,608th most common surname in Britain. Around 15 in a million people in Britain are named Petherick.
Famous people named Petherick
- Maurice Petherick - Politician (1894 to 1985)
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.