Show ContentsPettaway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Pettaway is a Scottish patronymic surname, derived from the name "Pat," a diminutive of Patrick. The Pettaway family initially lived at the manor of Patton in the English county of Cumberland before moving north to Scotland. In Ayrshire, the name is pronounced Pauton. [1]

Early Origins of the Pettaway family

The surname Pettaway was first found in Cumberland (Cumbria) where the name "was the favourite Border form, and remains a Scottish surname today." [2]

Paton with no forename was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. As a forename we found Patone de Hangaldsyde in 1467. In 1230, Northumberland records show Hugo Patun and later, James Patoun was found in the Hundredorum Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1279. [3]

Back in Scotland, "Paton is said to have been the name of a son of Sir Patrick Herring (fourteenth century). Royal pardons were granted to Paten Broune alias Broun and to the servant of Patein or Pateman Broin, 1407. Patone de Hangald-syde (1467) appears again in 1469 as Patrick Hangangside. Three persons named Pawton were voters in the parish of Qwilton (Coylton), 1513, and James Padyne, witness, 1514." [1]

Early History of the Pettaway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pettaway research. Another 277 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1466, 1492, 1520, 1538, 1547, 1550, 1582, 1596, 1597, 1606, 1613, 1650, 1662, 1682, 1684, 1686, 1700, 1721, 1807, 1890 and 1921 are included under the topic Early Pettaway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pettaway Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Patton, Pattin, Paton, Patin and others.

Early Notables of the Pettaway family

Notable among the family at this time was James Paton (d. 1596), Scottish prelate, Bishop of Dunkeld, descended from the family of Ballilisk, Kinross-shire; and David Paton (fl. 1650-1700), Scottish painter, a portrait of General Thomas Dalyell or Dalziel at Binns, Linlithgowshire, is ascribed to him. [4]James Paton (d. 1684)...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pettaway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pettaway Ranking

In the United States, the name Pettaway is the 7,582nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5]

Ireland Migration of the Pettaway family to Ireland

Some of the Pettaway family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pettaway family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Mary Patton and her husband settled in Virginia in 1654; Alexander, Charles, David, George, Henry, Hugh, James, John, Joseph, Margaret, Michael, Robert, Samuel, Thomas and William Patton all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..


Contemporary Notables of the name Pettaway (post 1700) +

  • Vann Pettaway (b. 1957), American former men's basketball coach at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University


The Pettaway 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: Virtute adepta
Motto Translation: Acquired by virtue


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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