The Patterson Family History

What Does the Patterson Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Patterson is of Scottish and Northern Irish origin, deriving from the diminutive form 'Pate,' which is itself a variation of the name 'Patrick. ' In Gaelic, the surname 'Ó Caisín' translates to 'descendant of the little curly-headed one. ' This particular Scottish and Irish surname has also been recorded under the variant spelling Cussane. Other known variations of Patterson include Pattison, Pattersen, Patteson, and Paterson. In Scotland, the prevalence of the Patterson surname is primarily concentrated in the southeastern regions, particularly within the counties of Roxburghshire, Berwickshire, and Midlothian. Conversely, in England, the name is found predominantly in the northeastern areas adjacent to Scotland, with Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, and Lancashire exhibiting a higher concentration of Patterson families. Noteworthy individuals bearing this surname include Floyd Patterson, a renowned professional boxing champion; Francine Patterson, a distinguished research scientist specializing in gorilla studies; historian James T. Patterson; John Henry Patterson, the founder of the National Cash Register Company; Scottish rugby player Lee Patterson; P. Patterson, a former prime minister of Jamaica; 19th-century boat builder and engineer William Patterson; and Johnny Patterson, an Irish musician and circus performer from the same century.