A male name. Latin patricius ‘nobleman’, the name adopted by the apostle of Ireland, whose original name was Sucat, when he was consecrated as a missionary. It has been chiefly used in Ireland and Scotland, but was common in the North of England from the 12th C cf. the surnames Patrick, Patrickson, Pate, Pates, Paty, Patey, Paton, Patten, Pattison, Pattinson, Paterson, Patterson). In Scotland Peter was formerly used as a diminutive of Patrick, e.g. Patrick, Lord Robertson (1794_1855), ‘Lord Peter, Who broke the laws of God and man and metre’. In Ireland, where it is one of the commonest men’s names, the pet-forms Pat, Patsy, and Paddy are in general use.

Patricius Curia Regis Rolls 1200-12, Feudal Aids 1284, Yorks Poll Tax of West Riding of Yorkshire 1379 1379. Paterick Early S. English Legendary, 14th C (E.E.T.S. 87). Patrycke Cocke Lorelle’s Bote c. 1515. Pati'rik Records of St. Mary at Hill, 1420-1559 (E.E.T.S. 125-8) 1527.

Found as a baptismal name. The Latin name; from patricius, in Rome a descendant of those who were created senators in the time of the Kings; from pater, a father.