NameCensus.

UK surname

Patey

A variant spelling of the English surname derived from Patrick, meaning 'nobleman' or 'patrician'.

In the 1881 census there were 674 people recorded with the Patey surname, ranking it #5,347 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 722, ranked #7,525, down from #5,347 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stokenham and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, County Durham and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Patey is 875 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.1%.

1881 census count

674

Ranked #5,347

Modern count

722

2016, ranked #7,525

Peak year

1911

875 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Patey had 674 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,347 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016, ranked #7,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 875 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Patey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Patey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Patey 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 452 #5,452
1861 historical 364 #7,023
1881 historical 674 #5,347
1891 historical 647 #5,998
1901 historical 768 #5,834
1911 historical 875 #5,082
1997 modern 792 #6,587
1998 modern 842 #6,485
1999 modern 828 #6,620
2000 modern 837 #6,537
2001 modern 812 #6,567
2002 modern 833 #6,560
2003 modern 804 #6,620
2004 modern 803 #6,652
2005 modern 759 #6,894
2006 modern 740 #7,061
2007 modern 762 #6,964
2008 modern 757 #7,057
2009 modern 780 #7,024
2010 modern 791 #7,095
2011 modern 759 #7,232
2012 modern 712 #7,509
2013 modern 731 #7,485
2014 modern 740 #7,461
2015 modern 732 #7,463
2016 modern 722 #7,525

Geography

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Where Pateys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stokenham, Portsmouth, Portsea and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, County Durham and West Berkshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stokenham Devon
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 006 South Hams
2 County Durham 046 County Durham
3 West Berkshire 006 West Berkshire
4 South Hams 010 South Hams
5 West Berkshire 005 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Patey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Patey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Patey, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Patey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Patey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Patey 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

Patey is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Patey falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Patey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Patey

The surname PATEY originated in England in the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "pætt" meaning a small path or track, and "ey" meaning an island or dry ground surrounded by marsh or water. The name likely referred to someone who lived on a small path or track on an island or area of high ground.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname PATEY can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Paty". Other early spellings include Patie, Pati, and Patye. The name was concentrated in areas of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in its early history.

In the 14th century, the name PATEY appears in various records, including the Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1332, where it is spelled "Patye". This suggests the name was well-established in the region by this time.

One notable bearer of the PATEY surname was John Patey, a member of the English Parliament who represented Bedfordshire in 1388. Another early individual was William Patey, born around 1410, who was a landowner in Cambridgeshire.

In the 16th century, the surname PATEY can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1524, where it appears as "Paty". This indicates the name had spread to other parts of eastern England by this period.

A notable figure in the 17th century was Richard Patey, a merchant and landowner born in 1628 in Bedfordshire. He was involved in the wool trade and acquired significant wealth and land holdings.

In the 18th century, the name PATEY appears in various parish records across England, with concentrations in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire. One individual of note was Thomas Patey, born in 1712 in Cambridgeshire, who was a prominent farmer and local landowner.

As the surname PATEY spread across England over the centuries, it also evolved into various spellings such as Pattie, Patee, and Pattey. Despite its localized origins, the name has been carried by individuals across various regions and professions throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Patey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Patey 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. Berkshire leads with 143 Pateys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.11x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 143 29.11x
Devon 138 10.13x
Middlesex 107 1.63x
Surrey 54 1.69x
Hampshire 32 2.39x
Oxfordshire 31 7.67x
Kent 29 1.30x
Somerset 25 2.37x
Buckinghamshire 23 5.81x
Hertfordshire 14 3.10x
Sussex 10 0.91x
Yorkshire 10 0.15x
Dorset 9 2.10x
Leicestershire 8 1.10x
Warwickshire 8 0.48x
Norfolk 5 0.50x
Staffordshire 5 0.23x
Glamorgan 4 0.35x
Durham 3 0.15x
Gloucestershire 3 0.23x
Essex 2 0.15x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Royal Navy 2 2.56x
Suffolk 2 0.25x
Argyllshire 1 0.55x
Northumberland 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Malborough in Devon leads with 24 Pateys recorded in 1881 and an index of 442.80x.

Place Total Index
Malborough 24 442.80x
Stokenham 24 625.00x
St Pancras London 21 3.99x
Reading St Giles 19 39.42x
Bermondsey 18 9.24x
Portsea 18 6.85x
Bexley 15 75.99x
Ware 14 108.28x
Chelsea London 12 6.08x
Shoreditch London 12 4.23x
Bucklebury 11 429.69x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 10.48x
West Wycombe 11 204.84x
Stanwell 10 206.61x
Burnham 9 112.08x
Hackney London 9 2.45x
Tidmarsh 9 2093.02x
Folkestone 8 18.47x
Hove 8 16.52x
Islington London 8 1.26x
Kingston Lisle 8 1052.63x
Leicester St Martin 8 164.27x
Rotherhithe 8 9.89x
South Pool 8 909.09x
Wycombe 8 27.12x
Aveton Gifford 7 355.33x
Cholsey 7 179.95x
Farnborough 7 1666.67x
Kensington London 7 1.92x
Pangbourn 7 421.69x
Stoke Damerel 7 7.34x
Tiverton 7 29.83x
Totnes 7 87.83x
Warfield 7 156.95x
Birmingham 6 1.09x
Caversham 6 74.17x
Crowmarsh Gifford 6 882.35x
Great Faringdon 6 84.99x
Hatherleigh 6 176.99x
Kintbury 6 157.89x
Northwood 6 31.41x
Oxford St John 6 1935.48x
Shinfield 6 207.61x
Southwark Christchurch 6 19.56x
St Marylebone London 6 1.72x
Bedminster 5 5.05x
Hampreston 5 160.26x
Hampstead London 5 4.90x
Heigham 5 9.26x
Newington 5 2.07x
Ryde 5 17.35x
Wolstanton 5 7.45x
Chivelstone 4 421.05x
Dartmouth Townstall 4 72.07x
Earley 4 48.90x
East Garston 4 384.62x
East Hendred 4 218.58x
Lambeth 4 0.70x
Llandaff 4 10.55x
New Windsor 4 24.21x
Padworth 4 666.67x
South Molton 4 53.40x
Southcoates 4 11.11x
St George Hanover 4 4.68x
Wallingford St Mary Le 4 143.88x
Bensington 3 116.28x
Chipping Norton 3 32.09x
Compton 3 212.77x
Corfe Mullen 3 192.31x
Holy Trinity 3 1.92x
Linthorpe 3 7.75x
Newton St Loe 3 365.85x
Plymouth Charles The 3 5.00x
Richmond 3 6.71x
St George Bloomsbury 3 7.99x
Stoke 3 54.35x
Taunton St Mary 3 15.51x
Thatcham 3 39.63x
West Alvington 3 157.07x
Woolwich 3 3.64x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 34
James 28
George 23
Thomas 22
Henry 17
Charles 9
Samuel 9
Robert 8
Alfred 7
Edward 7
Arthur 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Isaac 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Ambrose 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Job 2
Joshua 2
Wm. 2
Augustus 1
Aurthur 1
Benjn. 1
Besse 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Chas.A. 1
Ebenezer 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Harris 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1
J.H.R. 1
Jesse 1
Lestock 1
Macnamara 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1

FAQ

Patey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Patey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 674 people were recorded with the Patey surname. That placed it at #5,347 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Patey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016. That gives Patey a modern rank of #7,525.

What does the Patey surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname derived from Patrick, meaning 'nobleman' or 'patrician'.

What does the Patey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Patey 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.