Show ContentsPatten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Patten is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Patten 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 Patten family

The surname Patten 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 Patten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Patten 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 Patten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Patten Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Patten have been found, including Patten, Paten and others.

Early Notables of the Patten family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • William Patten (fl. 1548-1580) was historian and teller of the exchequer, was eldest son and third child of Richard Patten (d. 1536), a clothworker of London. His father was a son of Richard Patten of...
  • Thomas Patten (1714-1790), was an English divine, rector of Childrey, Berkshire

Patten Ranking

In the United States, the name Patten is the 2,222nd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [4]


United States Patten migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Patten were among those contributors:

Patten Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Patten, who settled in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1630
  • Darker Patten, who landed in Maryland in 1665 [5]
Patten Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Patten, who landed in Virginia in 1710 [5]
  • Letitia Patten, who landed in New England in 1720 [5]
  • Matthew Patten, who landed in New England in 1727-1737 [5]
  • Actor Patten, who landed in New England in 1737 [5]
  • Captain Patten, who arrived at Boston in 1768
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Patten Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Patten, aged 48, who arrived in New York in 1812 [5]
  • George Patten, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 [5]
  • Henry Patten, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1812 [5]
  • John Patten, aged 28, who landed in New York in 1812 [5]
  • Grace Patten, aged 18, who landed in America in 1822 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Patten migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Patten Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. William Patten U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 71st Regiment [6]
Patten Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Eliza Patten, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Fanny Patten, aged 27, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
  • Susan Patten, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
  • Lewis Patten, who arrived in Canada in 1841
  • Mr. Martin Patten, aged 35 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Larch" departing 11th July 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 20th August 1847 but he died on board [7]

Australia Patten migration to Australia +

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

Patten Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Patten Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Patten, a stone-mason, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • John Patten, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [9]
  • Mr. William Patten, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Henry Tanner" on 27th June 1834, settling in New South Wales, Australia [10]
  • Mr. James Patten, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Candahar" on 26th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [11]
  • James Patten, aged 31, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Patten 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:

Patten Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard William Patten, aged 27, a clerk, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoebe" in 1843
  • Mr. Patten, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Phoebe" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 18th April 1843 [12]
  • Mrs. Patten, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Phoebe" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 18th April 1843 [12]
  • Dr. James Patten, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 8th September 1848 [12]
  • Mr. E. Patten, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th May 1853 [12]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Patten migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [13]
Patten Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Richard Patten, who arrived in Barbados in 1654
  • James Patten, who settled in Barbados in 1685

Contemporary Notables of the name Patten (post 1700) +

  • David Patten (1974-2021), American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL); he died in a three-vehicle accident in Columbia, South Carolina, aged 47
  • Case Lyman "Casey" Patten (b. 1974), American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Fred Walter Patten (1940-2018), American writer and historian known for his work in the science fiction, fantasy, anime, manga, and furry fandoms
  • Zeboim Cartter Patten (1840-1925), American industrialist, capitalist, and American Civil War captain, founder of the Volunteer Life Insurance Company
  • Joseph Patten (1710-1787), American-born, Canadian politician in Nova Scotia who represented Annapolis County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1770 to 1774 and from 1775 to 1776
  • Major John Patten (1746-1800), American farmer and politician from Delaware, an officer of the Continental Army in the American Revolution
  • William George "Gilbert" Patten (1866-1945), American pulp fiction writer, best known as author of the Frank Merriwell stories
  • Bebe Patten (1913-2004), American Christian evangelist, founder of Patten University
  • William J. Van Patten, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Vermont, 1908 [14]
  • Lloyd Van Patten, American Republican politician, Elected Iowa State Senate 11th District 1948 [14]
  • ... (Another 51 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Patten 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.


Suggested Readings for the name Patten +

  • Descendants of Isaac Patten, Sr., and his Wife, Jane Norris: An Early Pioneer Family in Sullivan County, Indiana by Ernest C. Swanson.
  • Allied Genealogies: Pattenden, Cunnings, Donaldson and Hamilton by Donald C. Keller.

  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  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 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  9. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/henry-tanner
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/candahar
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  14. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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