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Show ContentsPaterson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The surname Paterson comes from the Irish Ó Casain. At one time it was anglicized as Kissane, but this is now obsolete as a variant of Paterson. Patterson is a somewhat unusual variant brought about through pseudo-translation. "Casan" means "path," locally pronounced in Connacht as "pat" which strangely brings about Patterson. 1

Early Origins of the Paterson family

The surname Paterson was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where it belonged to one of the eight Sodhans. The Sodhans were septs which were located in the Hy Many (Ui Maine) country, but whose ancestors were not of that group.

Early History of the Paterson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Paterson research. More information is included under the topic Early Paterson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paterson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cussane, O'Cussane, Patterson, Paterson and others.

Early Notables of the Paterson family

More information is included under the topic Early Paterson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paterson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Paterson is the 3,597th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Paterson is ranked the 560th most popular surname with an estimated 8,750 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Paterson is the 242nd popular surname with an estimated 14,179 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Paterson as 81st with 4,494 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Paterson as 218th with 26,396 people. 6

United States Paterson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Paterson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Eleanor Paterson, who arrived in Maryland in 1651 7
  • Elizabeth Paterson, who landed in Maryland in 1667 7
  • Janet Paterson, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 7
  • Thomas Paterson, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 7
  • Andrew and David Paterson who were banished to Georgia in 1685
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Paterson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Paterson who settled in New Hampshire in 1718
  • Christian Paterson, who arrived in New York in 1738 7
  • Anne Paterson, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 7
  • Agnes Paterson, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 7
  • Samuel Paterson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Paterson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Paterson, who landed in Georgia in 1850 7
  • Adam Paterson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1859 7
Paterson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • William Bothwell Paterson, who landed in Alabama in 1918 7

Canada Paterson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Paterson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • George Paterson, aged 36, Scottish carpenter who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with his wife and 4 children
  • David Paterson, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
  • Archibald Paterson, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
  • Barnabas Paterson, who landed in Canada in 1832
  • Agnes Paterson who settled in Wellington county, Ontario in 1851

Australia Paterson migration to Australia +

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

Paterson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Paterson, Scottish servant who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Thomas Paterson, English convict from Gloucester, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Frederick Paterson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Miss Margaret Paterson, (McFarlane), Scottish convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl of Liverpool" in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Miss Agnes Paterson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Paterson 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:

Paterson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • W. Paterson, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clydeside" in 1841
  • Andrew Paterson, aged 29, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • Margaret Paterson, aged 27, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • Henrietta Paterson, aged 1, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • Mr. James Paterson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Paterson (post 1700) +

  • Basil Alexander Paterson (1926-2014), American labor lawyer and political leader in New York and Harlem, father of David Paterson, 55th Governor of New York
  • William Paterson (1745-1806), Irish-born, American statesman, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, 2nd governor of New Jersey (1790 to 1793)
  • David Paterson (b. 1954), American politician, 55th Governor of New York (2008-2010), 74th Lieutenant Governor of New York (2007-2008)
  • Tim Paterson (b. 1956), American computer programmer, author of MS-DOS
  • John Paterson (1744-1808), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Tioga County, 1792-93; Broome County Judge, 1798, 1806; U.S. Representative from New York 16th District, 1803-05 14
  • Harry B. Paterson, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, 1930-34 14
  • Doug Paterson, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Nebraska 2nd District, 2002 14
  • David Alexander Paterson (b. 1954), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Senate 30th District; Elected 2002, 2004; Lieutenant Governor of New York, 2007-08; Governor of New York, 2008-10 14
  • David Paterson, American politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 21st District, 1913-16 14
  • Chet Paterson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Ohio 22nd District, 1950 14
  • ... (Another 36 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Miss Linda Jan Paterson (1957-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 15
  • Mrs. Ethel Mary Paterson (1925-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 15
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. John Paterson, British Butcher from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16
  • Mr. Alex Paterson (1875-1914), Scottish Third Class Passenger from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16
HMS Royal Oak
  • Andrew Paterson, British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 17
  • Walter Duncan Paterson (d. 1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 17
  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. 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)
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  9. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-of-liverpool
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  15. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  16. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  17. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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