Show ContentsPatrick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Patrick is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the given name Patrick. It was largely as a result of the fame of the 5th century Romano British saint of this name that Patrick was such a popular given name in the Middle Ages. It derives from the Latin Patricus, meaning the son of a noble father, a member of the patrician class, and a member of the Roman hereditary aristocracy.

They claim descent from Patrick de la Lande who was from La Lande near Caen in Normandy. "William Patrick de la Lande is mentioned by Wace as the entertainer of Harold during his visit to Normandy, and as challenging him to combat at Hastings for breach of his oath." [1]

To better understand this quotation, the reader needs to know that Wace (c. 1110-1174) was a Norman poet, born in Jersey. His "Roman de Brut," was a verse history of Britain, based on the Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth. In many ways, Wace's works often referred to as Wace's poems, are the only accurate history of those times.

Early Origins of the Patrick family

The surname Patrick was first found in Norfolk and Suffolk where King William granted a barony of fifteen fees shortly after the Norman Conquest to the aforementioned William Patrick. "William, his son, witnessed a charter of William I., to Savigny Abbey." [1]

Within one hundred years of the Conquest, branches of the family were found in northern England including the mention of Paganus de la Lande who held three fees in 1165 from the see of York.

Early History of the Patrick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Patrick research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1201, 1211, 1564, 1613, 1626, 1632, 1679, 1684, 1689, 1695, 1707 and 1748 are included under the topic Early Patrick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Patrick Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Patrick include Patrick, Patryck, Partick and others.

Early Notables of the Patrick family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Simon Patrich (d. 1613), English translator, matriculated as a pensioner at Peterhouse, Cambridge and was a member at Elizabeth's visitation in August 1564; and his grandson, Simon Patrick (1626-1707)...
  • Samuel Patrick (1684-1748), was a Scottish scholar and was for some years usher (i.e. second master) at the Charterhouse

Patrick World Ranking

In the United States, the name Patrick is the 465th most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. [2] However, in New Zealand, the name Patrick is ranked the 803rd most popular surname with an estimated 910 people with that name. [3] And in the United Kingdom, the name Patrick is the 803rd popular surname with an estimated 8,386 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Patrick family to Ireland

Some of the Patrick family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Patrick migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Patricks to arrive on North American shores:

Patrick Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Capt. Daniel Patrick, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
  • Mrs. Patrick who arrive in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
  • Mr. Thomas Patrick, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Constance" arriving in Virginia in 1635 [5]
  • Andrew Patrick, and Henry, settled in Virginia in 1636
  • John Patrick, who settled in Virginia in 1638
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Patrick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Patrick, who landed in Virginia in 1701 [6]
  • Owen Patrick, who arrived in Virginia in 1712 [6]
  • Matthew Patrick, who landed in New England in 1724 [6]
  • Robart Patrick, who arrived in North Carolina in 1748 [6]
  • William Patrick, who arrived in North Carolina in 1748 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Patrick Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jane Patrick, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 [6]
  • Nancy Patrick, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [6]
  • Robert Patrick, who landed in Maryland in 1819 [6]
  • Thomas Patrick, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1830 [6]
  • Marco Patrick, aged 26, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1845 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Patrick Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Douglas Patrick, who arrived in Alabama in 1919 [6]

Canada Patrick migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Patrick Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Giles Patrick, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Patience Patrick, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Patrick Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Matthew Patrick, aged 32 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Margaret" departing 19th May 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 2nd July 1847 but he died on board [7]

Australia Patrick migration to Australia +

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

Patrick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Patrick, (b. 1795), aged 24, English farmer who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1864 [8]
  • Mr. Daniel Patrick, (b. 1804), aged 27, English groom who was convicted in Westminster, London, England for 7 years for perjury, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1837 [9]
  • Mr. William Patrick who was convicted in Dover, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [10]
  • Thomas Patrick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Barras" in 1839 [11]
  • Mr. George Patrick, English convict who was convicted in Birmingham, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 30th September 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) [12]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Patrick 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:

Patrick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Patrick, aged 35, a quarrier, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • Isabella Patrick, aged 35, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • James Patrick, aged 7, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • Margaret Patrick, aged 5, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • Marion Patrick, aged 2, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Patrick (post 1700) +

  • Robert Patrick (1937-2023), born Robert Patrick O'Connor, an American playwright, poet, lyricist, short story writer, and novelist
  • Ueal Eugene "Pat" Patrick (1929-2021), American founder and owner of Patrick Racing, born in Kentucky
  • Darrin Patrick (1970-2020), American author and teaching pastor at Seacoast Church, in Charleston South Carolina
  • David L. Patrick, American Professor of Chemistry, Western Washington University
  • Tara Leigh Patrick (b. 1972), birth name of Carmen Electra, American actress, known for her roles in Scary Movie (2000), Meet the Spartans (2008) and Starsky & Hutch (2004)
  • Major-General Edwin Davies Patrick (1894-1945), American Commanding General 6th Division, Philippines (1944-1945) [13]
  • Mason Mathews Patrick KBE (1863-1942), American general in the United States Army
  • Julian Patrick (1927-2009), American operatic baritone and voice teacher
  • Lee Patrick (1901-1982), American theater and film actress
  • John Clarence "Jack" Patrick (1898-1959), American two-time gold medalist rugby union player at the 1920 Summer Olympics and later at the 1924 Summer Olympics
  • ... (Another 66 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Julian Patrick (1890-1914), British Second Class Passenger returning from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland [14]
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Charles William Patrick (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class from Eumundi, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [15]


The Patrick 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: Ora et labora
Motto Translation: Pray and work.


Suggested Readings for the name Patrick +

  • Patrick's Corner by Sean Patrick.
  • Precious Bonds by S.J. Patrick.

  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  4. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  5. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  6. 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)
  7. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 92)
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM BARRAS 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839WilliamBarrass.gif
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  13. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Edwin Patrick. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Patrick/Edwin_Davies/USA.html
  14. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  15. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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