Patch

The surname PATCH is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pacce" or "patche", which referred to a small piece of land or a patch of land. This name was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived on or owned a small plot of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PATCH can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1191, where a person named William Patche is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were a record of financial transactions made by the English Crown, and the inclusion of this name suggests that it was in use during that time period.

In the 13th century, the name PATCH appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard Patche. The Hundred Rolls were a series of inquests conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I, and they provide valuable information about the names and occupations of people living at that time.

One notable individual with the surname PATCH was John Patch, who lived in the 14th century and was a wealthy merchant and landowner in the city of London. He is mentioned in several historical records, including the City of London Letter Books from the years 1368 to 1375.

Another individual worth mentioning is Sir Henry Patch (1518-1592), who was a prominent figure during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted for his services to the Crown.

In the 17th century, the name PATCH was also found in various places, such as the parish records of Warwickshire, where a George Patch was born in 1642. Additionally, the surname is associated with the village of Patching in West Sussex, which may have derived its name from the same Old English word as the surname.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname PATCH, including:

1. William Patch (1622-1698), an English Puritan minister and author who emigrated to America and became the first minister of the West Church in Boston. 2. Samuel Patch (1795-1829), an American daredevil and mill worker who gained fame for his death-defying leaps over the Niagara Falls and the Genesee River. 3. Edith Patch (1876-1954), an American entomologist and academic who made significant contributions to the study of insects and their ecology. 4. Howard Rollin Patch (1887-1969), an American astronomer and mathematician who worked at the Harvard College Observatory and made important contributions to the study of variable stars. 5. Harry Aubrey Patch (1887-2009), an English supercentenarian who was, for a time, the last surviving veteran of the First World War trenches.