Patterson surname history

Patterson or Paterson is now found throughout Ireland, though it is common only in Ulster, being particularly frequent in Co. Down. Originally it is a Lowland Scottish name, meaning, simply, "Patrick's son", and was also used as an anglicisation of the Highland Gaelic surname, Mac (Gille) Phadraig, meaning "son of the follower of Patrick". In addition, there is a surname, Mac Phaidin, from Paidin, a diminutive of Patrick, which arose separately in both Ulster and Scotland, and which has been anglicised as Patterson, as well as the more usual (Mc)Fadden and (Mc)Padden.

William Paterson (1745-1806) was born in Co. Antrim and emigrated to America with his parents while still a child. He became Senator for New Jersey in 1789, Governor of New Jersey in 1791 and a justice of the Supreme Court from 1793. The town of Paterson, New Jersey, is named for him.

The founder of the Belfast Natural History Society was Robert Patterson (1802-1872).