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Paddy History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Paddy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the name Paddy are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the baptismal name Patty, which was the pet form for the personal name Patrick. Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. In the religious naming tradition, which was developed later than the vernacular tradition, surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Paddy family

The surname Paddy was first found in Worcestershire, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Paddy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Paddy research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1381, 1542, 1554, 1560, 1585, 1591, 1603, 1606, 1618, 1634, 1770, 1795 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Paddy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paddy Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Paddy has been spelled many different ways, including Paddy, Pady, Paddie, Padie, Paddey, Padey, Paday, Paddye, Patty, Paty, Pattie, Patie, Pati, Pattey, Patey and many more.

Early Notables of the Paddy family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir William Paddy (1554-1634), of county Oxford, who was appointed as personal physician to James I in the first year of his reign, and who was knighted at Windsor on July 9, 1603

Paddy migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Paddys to arrive in North America:

Paddy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Paddy, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635
William Paddy, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1636 1
John Paddy, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1663 1
John Paddy, who arrived in Boston in 1663

Paddy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Paddy, who arrived in Potomack, Maryland, in 1747

Paddy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Paddy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Henry Paddy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1849 2

Paddy migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Paddy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Paddy, (b. 1835), aged 22, British agricultural labourer and baker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glentanner" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd October 1857 3
Mrs. Susan Paddy, (b. 1826), aged 32, English settler from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
Mr. William Paddy, (b. 1830), aged 28, English baker and labourer from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
Mr. Anthony Franks Paddy, (b. 1847), aged 11, English settler from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
Miss Emily Susan Paddy, (b. 1854), aged 4, English settler from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Paddy (post 1700) +

John Paddy Carstairs (1914-1970), born John Keys, British novelist and film director who directed over 40 films
Paddy Moloney (1938-2021), Irish musician, composer, and producer, founder and leader of the Irish musical group The Chieftains
Paddy Cahill (d. 2021), Irish filmmaker and cycling advocate
Paddy McCarney, Irish location manager, known for his work on 1-Nenokkadine (2014), The Devil's Own (1997) and Michael Collins (1996)
Paddy Molloy (1934-2020), Irish hurler with his local club Drumcullen (1955-1971)
Paddy Feeny (1931-2018), British broadcaster and presenter of the BBC World Service's Saturday Special (1959 to 1995)
Paddy Killoran (1904-1965), Irish musician from Ballymote, County Sligo, master of the Irish fiddle
Paddy Mulvihill (b. 1915), Irish long-distance runner at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Paddy Harte (1931-2018), Irish Fine Gael politician, Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal North-East for 36 years, Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs (1981-1982)
Paddy O'Daly (1888-1957), also known as Paddy Daly; he served in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The MARY ANN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849MaryAnn.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html