Surname O'Paton - Meaning and Origin
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O'Paton: What does the surname O'Paton mean?
The surname O'Paton is derived from the Irish surname Ó Peatáin, which is a patronymic name meaning “descendant of Paton [or] Patrick”. The English form of this name, Patrick, is derived ultimately from the Latin word patricius, which means “nobleman”.
The family, originally from the province of Leinster, held membership within an ancient Gaelic sept dating back to the 12th century. Members of the sept were descendants of an Irish prince, and were millers by trade. They may have been responsible for milling grain for the surrounding settlements and lands, contributing to the region's economy.
The O'Paton name travelled through history with many changes, including the Anglicized names Patrick, Patton and Patterson. Irish immigrants to North America adopted a number of variations including Paton, Paddon, Patene, Paden, Paddon and Padin, among others.
Modern descendants of the ancient sept continue to enjoy the legacy of O'Paton which still binds them to their ancestors; a legacy of nobility, pride, and achievement. The O'Paton family motto is “Sine macula,” which translates from Latin into English as “without blemish”, a reminder to remain voluntary and honest in one’s life and deeds.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Paton: Where does the name O'Paton come from?
The last name O'Paton is commonly found in North America and western Europe. It is a derivation of the Irish Gaelic patronymic surname O'Páidín. The O'Patrick, O'Paton, or Patron surname is associated with the historical Irish Kingdom of Breifne. This kingdom was located near the modern county of Leitrim in the province of Connacht, and the surname is generally believed to indicate that the bearer was a descendant of the seventh century King of Breifne, Tadhg O'Ruairc. The O'Patons of Ulster and Leinster are also likely descended from the same ancestor.
The O'Patons of County Cork are believed to descend from the ninth century O'Riagain sept which ruled much of modern day south Co. Cork, in and around the baronies of Carbery and East Carbery during the middle ages. In the early decades of the 1600s, some O'Patons moved to colonial Virginia during the Irish colonization of the Americas alongside the better known Scotch-Irish immigrants who settled heavily in the southern states. The name is also known to have occurred in western Scotland, such as in Ayrshire in the 15th century, and is still found sporadically in various parts of the United Kingdom today.
On the east coast in Canada, descended from these original Virginia settlers, the name O'Paton is quite common today. In addition, the name has persisted throughout Ireland, especially in the south, in counties such as Wexford, Kilkenny, Cork, and Limerick. The name is also commonly found in the United States, particularly in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California. Therefore, the last name O'Paton remains popular today in America, across Europe, and especially in Ireland.
Variations of the surname O'Paton
The surname O'Paton is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Páidín, an ancestor of the O'Páidín clan. The clan originally originated from County Clare, Ireland. The name is believed to have descended from either Padraig or Patrick, both in Gaelic meaning "nobleman".
Variants of O'Paton include Padden, Paden, Padin, and Paddon. The registered uses of the surnames Padin, Paden, Padden and Paddon have seen a decrease since the early 1900s.
The surname was changed to many variants due to phonetic variation, and the sound shifts that occurred when a name was adapted from one language to another. For example, Ó Páidín became Paden or Padden when the English language was spoken. Therefore, other phonetic variations of O'Paton could be Patton, Paddun, etc.
In some cases, the name may also be spelled as "O'Paton" or "O Paton". The use of the apostrophe in the spelling is largely a matter of personal preference.
In records from the early 1700s, spellings of O'Páidín included O’Paydine, O'Paddine, O’Paydean, O’Paton, O’Padine, and various other variations.
The family is now scattered across various countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and even Europe. The name has been anglicised in many forms, such as Pateon, Paton, Patan, and Payton, and there are numerous associated spellings of the same origin.
Famous people with the name O'Paton
- Micky O'Paton: a professional photographer who has traveled across the globe capturing the beauty of nature through his lens
- Nell O'Paton: an Irish Folk singer who has released several acclaimed studio albums.
- Dude O'Paton: a competitive surfer on the World Surf League circuit.
- Pam O'Paton: a popular country music artist in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Tommy O'Paton: actor and stand-up comedian, well known for his popular sketch comedy show.
- Randall O'Paton: a renowned environmental scientist and union leader who has worked to protect Canada's nature reserves for decades.
- Dolores O'Paton: an Oscar-nominated costume designer who has worked on Broadway productions and movies.
- Colm O'Paton: a prominent Irish poet and author of several highly acclaimed novels.
- Aubrey O'Paton: a professional soccer goalkeeper for Major League Soccer's Atlanta United.
- Aidan O'Paton: a Grammy-winning musician and composer who has composed numerous soundtracks for animated films and television shows.