NameCensus.

UK surname

Paterson

Son of Patrick, an anglicized form of a Scottish and Irish patronymic surname derived from the given name Patrick.

In the 1881 census there were 20,480 people recorded with the Paterson surname, ranking it #183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27,054, ranked #207, down from #183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Alloa and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardenden, City Centre East and Alloa North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paterson is 27,525 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.1%.

1881 census count

20,480

Ranked #183

Modern count

27,054

2016, ranked #207

Peak year

2010

27,525 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Paterson had 20,480 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 27,054 in 2016, ranked #207.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 24,954 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Paterson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Paterson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Paterson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Paterson over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 14,803 #149
1861 historical 15,685 #139
1881 historical 20,480 #183
1891 historical 21,992 #177
1901 historical 24,954 #184
1911 historical 4,237 #1,226
1997 modern 25,537 #212
1998 modern 26,326 #213
1999 modern 26,570 #213
2000 modern 26,632 #212
2001 modern 25,850 #214
2002 modern 26,498 #215
2003 modern 25,870 #213
2004 modern 26,016 #213
2005 modern 26,139 #205
2006 modern 26,168 #205
2007 modern 26,384 #206
2008 modern 26,542 #207
2009 modern 27,080 #206
2010 modern 27,525 #207
2011 modern 26,900 #208
2012 modern 26,326 #210
2013 modern 26,659 #211
2014 modern 26,961 #211
2015 modern 26,922 #209
2016 modern 27,054 #207

Geography

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Where Patersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Alloa, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardenden, City Centre East, Alloa North, Kintyre Trail and Tillicoultry. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Alloa Clackmannan
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardenden Fife
2 City Centre East Glasgow City
3 Alloa North Clackmannanshire
4 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute
5 Tillicoultry Clackmannanshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Paterson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Paterson surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Paterson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Paterson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Paterson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Paterson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Paterson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Paterson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Paterson falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Paterson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Paterson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Paterson

The surname Paterson originated in Scotland during the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'pæða' meaning path or road and 'tun' meaning an enclosure or settlement, essentially translating to "the settlement by the road". The name is believed to have been first used to refer to individuals who lived near a well-traveled road or pathway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Paterson can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls documenting those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland. The name appears as 'Patrisone', possibly referring to a person from the town of Partick near Glasgow.

In the 16th century, the surname Paterson was commonly found in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. The name was often associated with places like Patricksburn and Partickhill, both of which are derived from the same root as the surname.

One notable early bearer of the surname was William Paterson, a Scottish trader, and entrepreneur born in 1658. He was the founder of the Bank of England and played a crucial role in establishing the Darien scheme, an ill-fated attempt to establish a Scottish colony in Panama.

Another historical figure with the surname Paterson was Samuel Paterson, a Scottish mathematician, and astronomer born in 1628. He made significant contributions to the study of navigation and was appointed as the first Regius Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh.

In the literary world, Norah Paterson, a Scottish poet and novelist born in 1900, gained recognition for her works such as "The Singing Close" and "The Homecoming". She was awarded the Saltire Society Book of the Year prize in 1954.

John Paterson, a Scottish engineer and inventor born in 1776, is credited with developing the first practical method for producing artificial ice. His invention, known as the Paterson Refrigerator, was widely used in the early 19th century for preserving food and cooling beverages.

The surname Paterson has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Paterson's Land in Edinburgh, which was a historic residential building dating back to the 17th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Paterson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paterson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 5,455 Patersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.48x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 5,455 8.48x
Midlothian 1,926 7.23x
Aberdeenshire 1,249 6.78x
Ayrshire 1,115 7.49x
Renfrewshire 1,036 6.72x
Fife 961 8.17x
Stirlingshire 860 11.73x
Angus 715 3.88x
Clackmannanshire 634 38.61x
Middlesex 463 0.23x
Lancashire 424 0.18x
Perthshire 358 4.01x
Dumfriesshire 351 7.99x
Banffshire 323 7.83x
Dunbartonshire 308 5.77x
Berwickshire 285 11.84x
Ross-shire 282 5.17x
Argyllshire 270 4.88x
Kirkcudbrightshire 254 8.83x
Inverness-shire 253 4.26x
Roxburghshire 226 6.28x
Wigtownshire 197 7.46x
East Lothian 174 6.61x
West Lothian 167 5.58x
Durham 155 0.26x
Kincardineshire 149 6.15x
Selkirkshire 141 7.84x
Yorkshire 141 0.07x
Morayshire 137 4.44x
Surrey 134 0.14x
Caithness 103 3.78x
Orkney 91 4.16x
Northumberland 88 0.30x
Cheshire 75 0.17x
Peeblesshire 73 7.81x
Kent 72 0.11x
Kinross-shire 68 13.53x
Buteshire 63 5.23x
Cumberland 59 0.34x
Hampshire 53 0.13x
Essex 42 0.11x
Lincolnshire 35 0.11x
Shropshire 34 0.20x
Sussex 30 0.09x
Somerset 25 0.08x
Devon 22 0.05x
Leicestershire 22 0.10x
Hertfordshire 20 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 19 0.16x
Warwickshire 19 0.04x
Nairnshire 15 2.47x
Royal Navy 14 0.59x
Sutherland 14 0.92x
Derbyshire 13 0.04x
Glamorgan 13 0.04x
Norfolk 13 0.04x
Staffordshire 13 0.02x
Gloucestershire 12 0.03x
Northamptonshire 11 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 10 0.25x
Isle of Man 10 0.27x
Flintshire 9 0.17x
Oxfordshire 9 0.07x
Suffolk 9 0.04x
Carmarthenshire 8 0.10x
Dorset 7 0.05x
Shetland 7 0.34x
Monmouthshire 6 0.04x
Worcestershire 6 0.02x
Westmorland 5 0.11x
Berkshire 3 0.02x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.01x
Brecknockshire 2 0.05x
Cardiganshire 2 0.04x
Cornwall 2 0.01x
Herefordshire 2 0.02x
Radnorshire 2 0.12x
Denbighshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 1,229 Patersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.55x.

Place Total Index
Barony 1,229 7.55x
Govan 1,199 7.54x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 849 7.92x
Glasgow 722 6.32x
Alloa 327 41.07x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 321 9.32x
Hamilton 267 14.89x
New Monkland 264 13.89x
South Leith 248 8.27x
Aberdeen Old Machar 243 6.32x
Dundee 215 3.13x
Dunfermline 208 11.49x
Bothwell 207 11.87x
West Greenock 207 7.49x
Clackmannan 194 62.52x
Old Monkland 186 7.29x
St Ninians 174 23.94x
Cambusnethan 154 10.78x
Inverness 143 9.58x
Alva 121 34.60x
North Leith 120 9.74x
Falkirk 118 6.87x
Abbey 116 4.93x
Cambuslang 115 17.74x
Kilmarnock 114 6.44x
Gamrie 108 23.46x
Rutherglen 108 11.45x
Tillicoultry 106 29.02x
Knockbain 105 82.20x
Paisley High Church 101 8.23x
Dalry 94 13.43x
Liff Benvie 94 3.36x
Dalziel 87 12.58x
Maryhill 86 6.83x
Blantyre 84 12.55x
Beath 82 22.05x
Glassford 80 80.74x
Paisley Middle Church 79 8.81x
Stirling 75 8.11x
Galston 74 18.19x
Cathcart 70 8.40x
St Pancras London 70 0.44x
Westray Papa Westray 68 39.20x
Coylton 64 30.32x
Eastwood 64 6.75x
East Greenock 63 4.33x
Lesmahagow 63 9.27x
New Kilpatrick 63 12.40x
Paisley Low Church 62 12.71x
Inveresk 61 8.46x
St Vigeans 61 6.14x
Loudoun 60 16.77x
Eyemouth 59 29.37x
Dumfries 58 13.39x
Shotts 58 7.54x
Abbotshall 57 12.96x
Carluke 57 9.76x
Denny 57 14.62x
Douglas 57 30.75x
Rathven 57 7.36x
Dundonald 56 10.21x
Galashiels 56 8.42x
Duddingston 54 10.10x
Liverpool 54 0.38x
Shettleston 54 9.38x
Dunipace 53 41.29x
Row 53 7.67x
Brechin 52 7.18x
Lasswade 51 8.38x
Ayr 50 7.12x
Old Kilpatrick 50 7.92x
Everton 49 0.65x
Irvine 49 11.86x
Neilston 49 6.34x
Avondale 48 12.77x
Dalserf 48 7.48x
Dysart 48 6.06x
Bonhill 47 5.48x
Edinburgh Canongate 47 6.93x
Haddington 47 12.09x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Paterson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 149
Elizabeth 75
Jane 61
Margaret 54
Sarah 35
Annie 34
Isabella 33
Agnes 30
Ellen 29
Ann 28
Alice 24
Emma 24
Helen 23
Janet 23
Catherine 21
Eliza 20
Jessie 20
Edith 17
Emily 15
Louisa 15
Harriet 12
Anne 11
Ada 10
Susan 10
Ethel 9
Hannah 9
Kate 9
Maria 8
Martha 8
Amelia 7
Barbara 7
Charlotte 7
Maggie 7
Amy 6
Clara 6
Fanny 6
Gertrude 6
Mabel 6
Caroline 5
Eleanor 5
Florence 5
Minnie 5
Grace 4
Margt. 4
Marion 4
Matilda 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Harriett 3
Isabel 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Paterson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 128
William 115
James 112
Robert 67
Thomas 61
George 50
Alexander 37
David 33
Charles 31
Arthur 21
Andrew 19
Henry 19
Ernest 13
Joseph 13
Peter 12
Frederick 11
Walter 11
Alfred 9
Samuel 9
Wm. 9
Edward 8
Francis 8
Richard 8
Daniel 6
Frank 6
Matthew 6
Adam 5
Archibald 5
Hugh 5
Donald 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Tom 4
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Geo. 3
Percy 3
Willm. 3
Albert 2
Bertie 2
Chas. 2
Duncan 2
Edwin 2
J. 2
Jas. 2
Jas.Thos. 2
Reginald 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2

FAQ

Paterson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Paterson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20,480 people were recorded with the Paterson surname. That placed it at #183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Paterson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 27,054 in 2016. That gives Paterson a modern rank of #207.

What does the Paterson surname mean?

Son of Patrick, an anglicized form of a Scottish and Irish patronymic surname derived from the given name Patrick.

What does the Paterson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Paterson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.