Paten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Today's generation of the Paten family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Paten family lived in Essex. The name, however, is a reference to Patin, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Early Origins of the Paten family

The surname Paten was first found in Essex, where Richard Patten, son and heir of Richard Patten was of Patine, or Patten, near Chelmsford in 1119. 1 The Pattens of Bank Hill, county Lancaster claim lineal descent from this family. 2 Later some of the family became well established at Wainfleet in Lincolnshire. "A free grammar school was founded in 1424, by William Patten, generally known as William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, lord high chancellor of England in the reign of Henry VI., and founder of Magdalen College, Oxford." 3

Early History of the Paten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Paten research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1376, 1395, 1398, 1447, 1456, 1460, 1486, 1536, 1548, 1580, 1630, 1635, 1666, 1714 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Paten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paten Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Paten were recorded, including Patten, Paten and others.

Early Notables of the Paten family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

William Paten or Pattyn (d. 1486), Bishop of Winchester. His son, William of Wainfleet (1395-1486) was Bishop of Winchester, Lord Chancellor of England, and founder of Magdalen College, Oxford

Paten migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Paten arrived in North America very early:

Paten Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George Paten, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1812 4
James Paten, aged 38, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1892

Paten Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anna H. Paten, aged 46, who landed in America, in 1909
Robert Paten, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States, in 1917
Elizabeth Alice Paten, aged 40, who settled in America from London, England, in 1919
John Paten, aged 43, who immigrated to America, in 1920
Paul Paten, aged 34, who landed in America, in 1920
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Paten migration to Australia +

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

Paten Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Paten, (b. 1812), aged 19, English stable boy who was convicted in Kent, England for life for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
William Paten, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Ostrich" 6

The Paten Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nulla pallescere culpa
Motto Translation: To turn pale from no crime.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
South Australian Register Saturday 22nd July 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Ostrich 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/ostrich1854.shtml