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Pattersen Family History

Pattersen Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Patterson, Pettersen, Catterson, Watterson, Petterson, Batterson

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pattersen family from?

You can see how Pattersen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pattersen family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Pattersen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1851 there were 10 Pattersen families living in Lanarkshire. This was about 45% of all the recorded Pattersen's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Pattersen families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pattersen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1881
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What did your Pattersen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pattersen. 42% of Pattersen men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Pattersen women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pattersen were Clerk and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Pattersen | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    42%
  • Farmer
    26%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    34%
  • Secretary
    17%
  • Clerk
    17%
  • Housekeeper
    17%

What Pattersen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Pattersen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pattersen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pattersen

Passenger Lists

There are 879 immigration records available for the last name Pattersen. 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 Pattersen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 167 military records available for the last name Pattersen. For the veterans among your Pattersen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pattersen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pattersen family history

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What is the average Pattersen lifespan?

Between 1973 and 1998, in the United States, Pattersen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1998, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Pattersen in 1973 was 97, and 44 in 1998.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pattersen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pattersen 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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