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Paterson Family History

Paterson Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of Patterson.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Paterson family from?

You can see how Paterson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Paterson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Paterson families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 577 Paterson families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Paterson's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Paterson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Paterson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Paterson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Paterson. 11% of Paterson men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Paterson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Paterson were Incapacitated and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Paterson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Medical Practitioner
    5%
  • Police Constable
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Paterson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 366,000 census records available for the last name Paterson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Paterson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Paterson

Passenger Lists

There are 79,000 immigration records available for the last name Paterson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Paterson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 32,000 military records available for the last name Paterson. For the veterans among your Paterson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Paterson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Paterson family history

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What is the average Paterson lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Paterson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Paterson in 1944 was 37, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Paterson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Paterson ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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