The Paterson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,035 people carried this name — #4,990 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 42,000 people counted. That is up 3% from 6,809 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Paterson surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From a Middle English short form of Patrick + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Paterson» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Patrick’.

His entry covers Pattinson, Pattison, Patteson, Pattisson, Patterson and Paterson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 590 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 106 people named Paterson live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 41
Entre Ríos 26
Salta 20
City of Buenos Aires 19

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

40 people named Paterson live in Switzerland.

They live in 7 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 16
Geneva 5
Vaud 5
Schaffhausen 4
Valais 4
Bern 3
Basel-Landschaft 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 30 people named Paterson.

Most of them — 24 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Paris.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 24
Paris 2
Drôme 1
Eure-et-Loir 1
Sarthe 1
Var 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

66 people named Paterson is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 66

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland, 1880s

Paterson was 68 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 147. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Distributed over a large part of Scotland, but rare in the north.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 593 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Paterson was recorded 526 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 21st most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 903. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Paterson in American newspapers,
1879–1913.

Newspaper page from Helena Weekly Herald carrying the name Paterson
Helena Weekly Herald 1879-12-04
Newspaper page from The Laramie Republican carrying the name Paterson
The Laramie Republican 1910-02-02
Newspaper page from The Greenville Journal carrying the name Paterson
The Greenville Journal 1913-03-20

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 1,409 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Paterson in Australian newspapers,
1800s–2010s.

176,010 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Paterson. The most, 48,554, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 43,393
Victoria 42,297
Queensland 38,600
Western Australia 21,524
South Australia 18,313
Tasmania 9,499
ACT (Canberra) 1,718
Northern Territory 421

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Paterson.

Who carried it

People named Paterson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Algy Paterson d. 1995
  • Margaret Paterson d. 1899
  • Elizabeth Tinning d. 1931
  • Ella Margaret Paterson d. 1907
  • Eveline Mary Mardon d. 1991
  • Edith Paterson d. 1908

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Paterson,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,609 records

2,609 records of the Paterson name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,095
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 671
  • Other U.S. records 843
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James E. Paterson

    Born 1923 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; machinist from Nassau County, New York. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John Paterson

    Born 1911 in Oregon. Enlisted 1945 at Fort Lewis, Washington; carpenter from Multnomah County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1973, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Robert Paterson

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Pretoria from Hamburg, aged 32; miner. From Glasgow, Lithuania, Russia; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,609 records for Paterson in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia5,034 records

5,034 records of the Paterson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 2,709
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 967
  • Other Australian records 1,358
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Johan Paterson

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Margaret, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Edinburgh, Midlothian. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847. Married 1847 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 22.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Colin Paterson

    Died 1894 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 65. Will registered in Tasmania in 1894.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Paterson

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Donald McKay, as an infant; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5,034 records for Paterson in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom664 records

664 records of the Paterson name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 430
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 121
  • Other British records 113
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Peter Paterson

    Born 1888 at Altyre; lorryman. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jean Paterson

    Died 1975, aged 62; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Edward Paterson

    Will proved in 1934; of Llandudno Junction, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 664 records for Paterson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada429 records

429 records of the Paterson name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 99
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 86
  • Other Canadian records 244
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Thomas Paterson

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the L'Abondence, bound for Port Roseway, aged 45.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thomas Paterson

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Polynesian, bound for Brace Bridge, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Alexander Paterson

    Died 1949, aged 62; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 429 records for Paterson in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand96 records

96 records of the Paterson name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 75
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 9
  • Other New Zealand records 12
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth May Paterson

    Buried in 1926 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 36.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Charters Paterson

    Died 1944, aged 60; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ronald William Paterson

    Born 1958, died 2000; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 96 records for Paterson in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands61 records

61 records of the Paterson name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 32
  • Dutch population registers 15
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 14
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Paterson

    Died 1888 in Terneuzen, aged 61; sailor.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record James Robert Paterson

    Married in 1939 in Amsterdam; fitter.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Andrew Paterson

    Married in 1946 in Nijmegen; mechanic.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 61 records for Paterson in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France5 records

5 records of the Paterson name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Ernest William Paterson

    Born 1909 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Lydia Mary Constance Paterson

    Born 1913 in Great Britain; died 1996 in Tours (Indre-et-Loire).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Paterson in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Belgium2 records

2 records of the Paterson name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Catharina Isabella Paterson

    Died 1836 in Gijzegem, aged 19; "schoolkind".

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Paterson in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Paterson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Paterson is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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