Patrick Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Patrick last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Patrick last name
Meaning of the Patrick last name: nobleman (from Patricius). The Patrick surname comes from the first name Patrick, Latin Patricius, made popular by Ireland's patron saint. It is an old last name in Scotland, especially in Ayrshire. In Ireland it is often a short form of Fitzpatrick, "son of the devotee of Saint Patrick". A curious detail of this surname origin: Scottish and Ulster families carried it to the American colonies, where it became common in the South.
Arms associated with the Patrick name
In Scotland a coat of arms is strictly personal and still overseen by the Court of the Lord Lyon, so each blazon associated with the Patrick name belongs to one bearer at a time.
Get your full Patrick family history
This is only a glimpse of the Patrick story. The full Patrick history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Patrick coat of arms. Get the full Patrick report.
Patrick name FAQ
What does the Patrick name mean?
Nobleman (from Patricius). Common variants include Patric, Patrik.
Where does the Patrick surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States and Ireland.
Is there a Patrick coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Patrick coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland.