Patton Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Patton last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Patton last name
Meaning of the Patton last name: little Pate (Patrick). Patton is a pet form of Pate, the medieval Scottish and northern English short form of Patrick. Paton is the usual spelling in Scotland, while Patton is typical of Ulster, where many Scottish families settled. From there many moved on to Pennsylvania and Virginia. A curious detail: the American general George S. Patton, one of the best-known commanders of the Second World War, came from a Virginian family of the name.
Arms associated with the Patton name
Scottish shields often carry galleys, lions and hands, symbols of sea power, courage and loyalty, and the Patton name shares in that imagery.
Get your full Patton family history
This is only a glimpse of the Patton story. The full Patton history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Patton coat of arms. Get the full Patton report.
Patton name FAQ
What does the Patton name mean?
Little Pate (Patrick). Common variants include Paton, Patten, Pattison.
Where does the Patton surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Northern Ireland and England.
Is there a Patton coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Patton coat of arms in museum style, 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); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.