Patterson Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Patterson name began, what it means, and where it was first recorded.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Patterson coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Patterson name
Patterson is a Scottish patronymic meaning "son of Pate", a pet form of Patrick. Saint Patrick was widely venerated in south-west Scotland, so the name was popular there. The surname is common in Lowland Scotland and Ulster, where many Scottish settlers took it, and in North America.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Patterson name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Patterson name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Northern Ireland and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Patterson family history
Your full Patterson pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Patterson coat of arms for you.
Patterson name FAQ
What does the Patterson name mean?
Son of Patrick. Common variants include Paterson, Pattison, Patteson.
Where does the Patterson surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Northern Ireland and Canada.
Is there a Patterson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Patterson crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Patterson coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.