Find out how popular the last name Patchan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Patchan.

Patchan, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Patchan surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Patchan in America

Patchan is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Patchan surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Patchan.

The history of the last name Patchan

The surname Patchan is of English origin, and it most likely dates back to the medieval period in England. The name is derived from a combination of "patch," which refers to a small piece of land, and "an," a suffix that might denote association or belonging. This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely small landholders or people living on a patch of land.

Patchan, or its variant spellings, has been documented in various old records and manuscripts. One of the earliest references to a similar name appears in the 13th century in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles, where a family named Patchan was noted in the county of Suffolk. Despite this early mention, the surname was relatively uncommon and often localized to specific regions.

Historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries also contain mentions of the Patchan name. The Poll Tax records of York from 1379 list a William Patchan as a notable resident. This public record indicates that the surname had already become established by this time. Another early record involves Thomas Patchan, who was cited in 1433 in Wiltshire for owning agricultural land, further emphasizing the likely rural and agrarian roots of the name.

One of the earliest famous individuals with the surname Patchan was John Patchan, an English merchant from London who lived in the early 16th century, around 1502. His family was involved in trade, and their economic activity helped spread the use of the surname beyond its original regions.

In the 17th century, the name appears in maritime records. Captain Robert Patchan, born in 1610, was documented as a privateer during the English Civil War. His exploits on the high seas were recorded in naval logs and brought some notoriety to the Patchan name.

As time progressed into the 18th century, Anne-Marie Patchan, born in 1734, emerges as another notable bearer of the surname. She was recognized for her social work in the community around Hertfordshire, helping to establish one of the early orphanages in the area.

By the 19th century, George Patchan, an inventor and engineer born in 1807, gained some repute for his contributions to developing steam engines, which were critical during the Industrial Revolution. His work was covered in various industrial periodicals, solidifying the Patchan name in the annals of engineering history.

Throughout centuries, the Patchan surname has evolved and spread, but its roots remain deeply linked to the rural and agrarian lifestyle of medieval England. From early agrarian records to the broader social contributions of individuals, the Patchan name tells a story of growth and diversification while maintaining a link to its historical origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Patchan

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Patchan.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Patchan was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Patchan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Patchan, please contact us.

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