Map of England showing where the Patten arms are recorded
The Patten arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Patten arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Patten Family in England
The surname Patten is an occupational name that originated in medieval England, derived from the Old French word "patin," which referred to a wooden-soled shoe or clog. People who earned this name were likely makers or wearers of these protective overshoes, which were essential for navigating the muddy, unpaved streets of early towns. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had become well-established across Northern England. During this period, the city of York served as a vital hub for trade and craftsmanship, and families with this name were often integrated into the local merchant and artisan classes. As the family settled into urban life, they contributed to the steady growth of the region, leaving behind records in parish registers and legal documents that trace their transition from rural craftsmen to established city dwellers.
Patten Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Patine
A shallow dish or plate made of metal.
This name
PattenAn occupational name for a maker or seller of wooden clogs or pattens.
also spelled
Pattenden
Patton
Pattine
Related arms
Pattonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
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lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
