Show ContentsPaddy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • England
Paddy Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Paddy

What does the name Paddy mean?

The origins of the name Paddy are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the baptismal name Patty, which was the pet form for the personal name Patrick. Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. In the religious naming tradition, which was developed later than the vernacular tradition, surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Paddy family

The surname Paddy was first found in Worcestershire, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Paddy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Paddy research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1381, 1542, 1554, 1560, 1585, 1591, 1603, 1606, 1618, 1634, 1770, 1795 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Paddy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paddy Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Paddy has been spelled many different ways, including Paddy, Pady, Paddie, Padie, Paddey, Padey, Paday, Paddye, Patty, Paty, Pattie, Patie, Pati, Pattey, Patey and many more.

Early Notables of the Paddy family

  • Sir William Paddy (1554-1634), of county Oxford, who was appointed as personal physician to James I in the first year of his reign, and who was knighted at Windsor on July 9, 1603

Paddy migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Paddys to arrive in North America:

Paddy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Paddy, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635
  • William Paddy, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1636 1
  • John Paddy, who arrived in Boston in 1663
  • John Paddy, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1663 1
Paddy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Paddy, who arrived in Potomack, Maryland, in 1747

Paddy migration to Australia +

Paddy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Henry Paddy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1849 2

Paddy 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:

Paddy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Paddy, (b. 1835), aged 22, British agricultural labourer and baker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glentanner" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd October 1857 3
  • Mrs. Susan Paddy, (b. 1826), aged 32, English settler from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
  • Mr. William Paddy, (b. 1830), aged 28, English baker and labourer from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
  • Mr. Anthony Franks Paddy, (b. 1847), aged 11, English settler from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
  • Miss Emily Susan Paddy, (b. 1854), aged 4, English settler from Surrey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Paddy (post 1700) +

  • John Paddy Carstairs (1914-1970), born John Keys, British novelist and film director who directed over 40 films
  • Paddy Summerfield (1929-2025), British chigiri-e and graphic artist, known for the application of the Japanese chigiri-e technique to abstract and figurative art using strong and vivid colours, graphic art includes etchings, book covers, designed the logo for an international women's advocacy group now Issis-wicce
  • Paddy Cullen (1944-2025), Irish Gaelic football manager and player from Stoneybatter, Dublinfrom 1966 to 1979
  • Paddy Hill (1944-2024), Northern Irish human rights campaigner, wrongfully convicted of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings
  • Paddy Moriarty, Gaelic footballer from Northern Ireland in the 1970s
  • Paddy Moloney (1938-2021), Irish musician, composer, and producer, founder and leader of the Irish musical group The Chieftains
  • Paddy Cahill (d. 2021), Irish filmmaker and cycling advocate
  • Paddy McCarney, Irish location manager, known for his work on 1-Nenokkadine (2014), The Devil's Own (1997) and Michael Collins (1996)
  • Paddy Molloy (1934-2020), Irish hurler with his local club Drumcullen (1955-1971)
  1. 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)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The MARY ANN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849MaryAnn.htm
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html

Houseofnames.com on Facebook