PETRIE
The surname Petrie is a patronymic surname of Scottish origin, rooted in the Latin name Patricius and the Greek Petros.
Its earliest recorded instance appears in the Balwellow Records of Aberdeen under the spelling Patre dated 1513, a period contemporaneous with the reign of King James V. Subsequent documentation from Aberdeen—such as the christening of Robert Petrie in 1632 and Alexander Petrie in 1655 at St. Nicholas Church—confirms the name’s provincial concentration.
In Gaelic tradition the name is understood to mean "son of Peter", with Peter itself derived from the Greek word petros, signifying rock. The adoption of the name in this form is believed to have arisen from the widespread veneration of Saint Peter within Christian practice, which contributed to the name’s dissemination in medieval Scotland.
The surname Petrie may also be linked to the personal name Patrick, itself coming from Latin Patricius and meaning noble. This double derivation explains the coexistence of spelling variants such as Patre, Petre, Petrye, Paitrie, Patrie and Patry, all recorded in historical sources in the British Isles.
Modern variants that appear in genealogical records include Petree, Petry, Pettree, Pettrie, Pettie and Petterie. These variations arise from regional dialects, orthographic changes and the anglicisation of Gaelic forms and provide a useful trail for tracing family lineages across Britain and Ireland.
While far less common than some other Scottish surnames, Petrie has a notable presence in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeen and the surrounding county of Aberdeenshire, as well as in Northern Ireland. Emigration during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has extended the family name to English‑speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Prominent bearers of the name include the Australian pioneer Andrew Petrie, the British Egyptologist William Petrie, the renowned archaeologist Flinders Petrie, and the 19th‑century baronet Sir Charles Petrie of the Petries of Banchor. These individuals demonstrate the surname’s historical reach beyond the British Isles.
In sum, the surname Petrie embodies a layered heritage that combines Latin and Greek etymology with Gaelic patronymic customs, a legacy preserved in both place‑based records and the work of distinguished individuals in the modern era.
Typical given names associated with the Petrie surname
Male
- Alan
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- George
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Patrie
- Patri
- Peatry
- Patria
- Patry
- Peatrie
- Patris
- Patre
- Petire
- Pertie
- Petri
- Petria
- Padar
- Padder
- Paddor
- Pader
- Padra
- Padrao
- Padre
- Padro
- Paidar
- Paider
- Paiter
- Patara
- Patarou
- Pater
- Patera
- Patira
- Pator
- Patra
- Patrao
- Patrau
- Patro
- Patroe
- Patru
- Pattar
- Patter
- Pattor
- Patureau
- Paturi
- Patyra
- Pauter
- Pawter
- Paydar
- Payter
- Paytor
- Peader
- Peater
- Pedar
- Peddar
- Pedder
- Peder
- Pedra
- Pedre
- Pedri
- Pedro
- Peeder
- Peetrey
- Peiter
- Petar
- Peter
- Petera
- Petere
- Peteri
- Peterie
- Petero
- Petr
- Petra
- Petre
- Petrea
- Petree
- Petres
- Petreus
- Petrey
- Petric
- Petrice
- Petrick
- Petrides
- Petrik
- Petrin
- Petrine
- Petris
- Petriv
- Petro
- Petroiu
- Petrou
- Petru
- Petry
- Pettar
- Petter
- Petterie
- Pettier
- Pettrey
- Pettridge
- Pettrie
- Pettry
- Peuder
- Pewter
- Peytor
- Pidder
- Piedra
- Pieter
- Pietra
- Pietri
- Pietrie
- Pietro
- Piotr
- Pitare
- Pitaru
- Piteira
- Piter
- Pitera
- Pitra
- Pitre
- Pitrie
- Pittar
- Pittaro
- Pitter
- Pittir
- Pitura
- Podar
- Poddar
- Podder
- Poder
- Podro
- Poduri
- Poiter
- Poitier
- Pooter
- Potdar
- Poter
- Potera
- Potier
- Potra
- Potrie
- Pottar
- Potter
- Pottier
- Pottor
- Pottter
- Potturi
- Potyra
- Pouder
- Pouter
- Poutter
- Powder
- Powter
- Poyter
- Puder
- Puetter
- Puter
- Putera
- Putra
- Putter
- Puttur
- Putyra
- Petroi
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Petrie in...
Braille
⠏⠑⠞⠗⠊⠑
Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 6,675 people named Petrie in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,408th most common surname in Britain. Around 103 in a million people in Britain are named Petrie.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Petrie
- Alistair Petrie - Actor
- Flinders Petrie - Egyptologist (1853 to 1942)
- Ed Petrie - Television presenter
- Hay Petrie - Actor (1895 to 1948)
- Hilda Petrie - Egyptologist (1871 to 1956)
- Sir Charles Petrie, 3rd Baronet - Historian (1895 to 1977)
- Thomas Petrie - Australian explorer and linguist (1831 to 1910)
- Darren Petrie - Scottish football player
- Dave Petrie - Member of the Scottish Parliament (1946 to 2011)
- Bob Petrie - Scottish football player (1874 to 1947)
- Calvin Petrie - Football player
- Stewart Petrie - Scottish football player
- David Petrie - Director General of MI5 (1879 to 1961)
- John Petrie - Australian mayor (1822 to 1892)
- Marc Petrie - Cricketer
- Robert Methven Petrie - Canadian astronomer (1906 to 1966)
- Donald Petrie - New Zealand botanist (1846 to 1925)
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.