The Pattison surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,217 people carried this name — #6,505 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 56,500 people counted. That is up 5% from 4,968 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Pattison surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From a Middle English diminutive of the given name Patrick + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Pattison» (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.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Pattison was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Durham: 40 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 250. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Durham 40
Northumberland 22
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 7

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Pattison was recorded 20 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1147th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 25. 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

Pattison in American newspapers,
1896.

Newspaper page from San Antonio Daily Light carrying the name Pattison
San Antonio Daily Light 1896-07-10
Newspaper page from The Beatrice Daily Express carrying the name Pattison
The Beatrice Daily Express 1896-07-10
Newspaper page from The Daily Herald carrying the name Pattison
The Daily Herald 1896-07-10

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 61,690 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Pattison in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

32,568 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Pattison. The most, 6,896, date from the 1880s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 3.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 19,960
New South Wales 5,257
Victoria 4,820
Tasmania 1,183
South Australia 768
Western Australia 477
ACT (Canberra) 41
Northern Territory 35

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

Who carried it

People named Pattison,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Alexander Hope Pattison
    Alexander Hope Pattison 1785–1835
  • Robert Everett Pattison
    Robert Everett Pattison 1800–1874 · academic administrator
  • James Pattison d. 1849 · banker
  • Israel Pattison d. 1903 · politician
  • Joseph Pattison d. 1866 · Christian minister
  • James Pattison 1786–1849 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Pattison,
in the records of 7 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 States813 records

813 records of the Pattison name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 176
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 176
  • Other U.S. records 461
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Alfred M. Pattison

    Born 1916 in Nebraska. Enlisted 1941 at Camp Roberts, California; bank clerk. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1989, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1834 aboard the Eagle from Liverpool, aged 22; grocer. From Great Britain; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Ronald Alan Pattison

    Born 1945; from North Little Rock, Arkansas. U.S. Marine Corps, assault amphibious vehicle crewman; killed in action 1967 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 813 records for Pattison in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (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) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). 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); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia812 records

812 records of the Pattison name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 321
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 185
  • Other Australian records 306
  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 James Pattison

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Barossa, sailing from Sheerness in 1841. Native of Paisley, Renfrewshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851. Married 1851 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 31.

    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 Robert Albert Pattison

    Died 1923 in Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1924.

    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 Euphemia Pattison

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the Earl of Sefton, as an infant; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 812 records for Pattison 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). 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).

Canada89 records

89 records of the Pattison name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 29
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 20
  • Other Canadian records 40
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Vincent James Pattison

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 54; buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Halifax.

    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 Wm Pattison

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Winnipeg, landing at Portland, bound for Harley, Ontario; English.

    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 William James Pattison

    Buried in 2000 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 73.

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

Showing 3 of 89 records for Pattison in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom38 records

38 records of the Pattison name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • Stirling Council burial records 4
  • Other British records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Anne Pattison

    Died 1934, aged 82; buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Pattison

    Buried in 1813 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 70.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. N. Pattison

    Northumberland Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 38 records for Pattison in the United Kingdom.

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

New Zealand26 records

26 records of the Pattison name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 25
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Doris Eileen Pattison

    Died 2001, aged 86; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Samuel Pattison

    Buried in 1893 at Tararu Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 54.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Steel Pattison

    Died 1946, aged 69; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 26 records for Pattison in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel 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).

Netherlands13 records

13 records of the Pattison name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 7
  • Dutch population registers 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record George Pattison

    Married in 1883 in Tilburg; born 1844 in Chatham, Great Britain. Died 1901 in Maastricht, aged 56.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Thomas Dennett Pattison

    Married in 1903 in Venlo; engineer.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Marrij Pattison

    Buried in 1806 in Loenen.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 13 records for Pattison in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Pattison 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 Aline Henriette Jeannette Pattison

    Born 1936 in Great Britain; died 1996 in Thionville (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Pattison.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Pattison 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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