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

Pattison, 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 Pattison surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pattison in America

Pattison is the 6505th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pattison surname appeared 5,217 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Pattison.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pattison to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Pattison

The surname Pattison has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Old French word "patin," meaning a clog or patten. This suggests that the name may have been given to a clog or patten maker.

In medieval times, the Pattison surname was predominantly found in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Northumberland. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1195, which mention a William Patynson.

The name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Patinson, Pattinson, and Pattenson. These variations are likely due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time and regional dialects.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the Pattison surname. However, the book does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Patingham and Patton.

One notable historical figure with the surname Pattison was Sir Hugh Pattison (c. 1596–1658), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London from 1638 to 1639. Another prominent individual was John Pattison (1675–1727), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Bishop of Oxford from 1723 until his death.

In the 18th century, a famous bearer of the Pattison surname was James Pattison (1720–1789), a Scottish entrepreneur and philanthropist who made his fortune in the linen trade. He founded the village of Pattison's Town, now known as Murieston, near Edinburgh.

Moving into the 19th century, a notable figure was Dorothy Pattison (1832–1878), an English author and activist who wrote extensively on women's rights and education. She was also a founding member of the London Dialectical Society.

In the field of science, one cannot overlook the contributions of Andrew Pattison (1837–1907), a Scottish chemist and professor who made significant advancements in the study of organic chemistry and dye synthesis.

While these historical figures provide a glimpse into the rich heritage of the Pattison surname, it is important to note that the name has been carried by countless individuals throughout history, each with their own unique story and impact on their respective communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pattison

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Pattison 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Pattison has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Pattison was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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