Patton
From an English place name meaning "Pata's town," derived from the Old English personal name Pata and tun, meaning "settlement."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 77,017 Americans carry the last name Patton. That puts it at #506 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 22.47 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 4,450 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Patton surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
77K
1 in 4,450
Census rank
#506
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
22.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
66K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 66,293 bearers of the surname Patton in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 22.47 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 506th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Patton, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.0%. The next largest groups are Black (20.9%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Patton
The surname PATTON is an English habitational name derived from various places named Patton in England, such as those found in Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words 'pætt' meaning path and 'tun' meaning enclosure or settlement, essentially translating to 'settlement by the path'.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Patone' and 'Patona'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the late 11th century.
The PATTON surname has been traced back to various regions in England, with some of the earliest recorded examples coming from Yorkshire. In the 13th century, records show individuals named Adam de Patton and Willelmus de Patton residing in Yorkshire.
Another notable early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert de Patton from Shropshire. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.
Throughout history, several individuals with the surname PATTON have achieved notable recognition. One of the most famous was George Smith PATTON (1885-1945), the American general who played a pivotal role in World War II and is best known for his leadership of the Seventh United States Army in the successful 1944 invasion of Normandy.
Other notable individuals include James PATTON (1692-1755), an Irish-American pioneer and settler in Pennsylvania, and John PATTON (1749-1804), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician who served as the second Governor of Virginia.
In the literary world, the name is associated with Emily Lewis PATTON (1873-1960), an American writer and editor known for her works on literature and history. Additionally, Charles PATTON (1764-1837) was a British naval officer and explorer who conducted several expeditions in the Pacific Ocean.
While the PATTON surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Patton
Among Census respondents with the surname Patton, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.0%. The next largest groups are Black (20.9%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Patton bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Patton surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White73.0%
- Black or African American20.9%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races2.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Patton surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #464 | #506 | -9.1% |
| Count | 64,772 | 66,293 | 2.3% |
| Per 100K | 24.01 | 22.47 | -6.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Patton bearers went from 64,772 to 66,293 (+2.3% change). The surname moved down 42 positions in the national ranking, going from #464 to #506.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Patton
FAQ
Patton surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Patton?
The surname Patton holds position #506 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 77,017 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 22.47 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Patton surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Patton, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.0%. The next largest groups are Black (20.9%) and Hispanic (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.