The Surnames of Scotland Their O

The Surnames of Scotland
Their Origin, Meaning, and History
by George F. Black, Ph.D.
Birlinn Ltd., West Newington House, 10 Newington Roard, Edinburgh EH9 1QS
Copyright (c) The New York Public Library 1946

Paterson/Patterson

Scottish forms of 'Patrick's son' or 'Patrickson', and one of the commonest of Scottish surnames. The native home of the Clan Pheadrirean (Pattersons) was on the north side of Lochfyne where they were formerly numerous (Carmichael, Carmina Gadelica, II, p.332). See under MacPatrick, Patterdale in Westmoreland was formerly Patrickdale, 'the dale or valley of Patrick.' William Patrison and John Patonson, 'gentillmen,' witnesses in Aberdeen, 1446 (REA., I, p.245). Donald Patyrson was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1494 (NSCM., I, p.37) Ade Patersoun is mentioned in 1499 (RAA., II, 398), and in 1524 letter were issued against Patik Patersoune for defrauding the king's customes (Irvine, I, p.35). Robert Patersoun was 'capitane of ane were schip of Dundee,' 1544 (CRA., p.205), and John Patersoune held land in Glasgow, 1553 (Protocols, I).

Fyndlay Patersoun had a tack of the lands of Owar Elrick from the Abbey of Cupar, 1557 (Cupar-Angus, II, p.170-171), and in the same year John Patersoun, custumar of Cupar, and David Petirsoun rendered to Exchequer the accounts of that burgh (ER, xix, p.8). John Patersoune was burgess of Northberwyk, 1562 (CMN., 85), George Paterson, a monk in the monastery of Culross, 1569 (Laing, 844), and Alexander Patersone, burgess of Aberdeen, 1594 (CRA., p.104). William Paterson (1658-1719) was author of the ill-fated Darien Scheme and orignator of the plan of the Bank of England. Patirsone 1497. Ade Patrisoun had a precept of remission in 1536 (RSS., II, 2033). James Patirsone, sheriff-depute of Innerness, 1530, may be James Patirsoun, provost there, 1573 (OPS., II, p. 666, 669). One of the Farquharson genealogies says that "the Patersons in the North" are descended from Patrick, grandson of Ferquhard from who the clan Farquharson take their name (Farquharsons of Invercauld, p.4).