Patterson

//ˈpætəɹ.sən// name

name ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A Scottish and Northern English surname originating as a patronymic. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    A locale in the United States:; A minor city in Woodruff County, Arkansas. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    A locale in the United States:; A city in Stanislaus County, California; named for an early landowning and business family. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A locale in the United States:; A minor city in Pierce County, Georgia; named for William Patterson, the proprietor of a local sawmill. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    A locale in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Lemhi County, Idaho. countable, uncountable
Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    A locale in the United States:; A township in Greene County, Illinois. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A locale in the United States:; A minor city in Madison County, Iowa; named for early landowner Alexander Pattison. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A locale in the United States:; A city in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana; named for early settler and trader John Patterson. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    A locale in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wayne County, Missouri; named for early settlers George and William Patterson. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    A locale in the United States:; A ghost town in Catron County, New Mexico; named for early settler Richard Chase Patterson. countable, uncountable
  6. 11
    A locale in the United States:; A town in Putnam County, New York; named for early farmer Matthew Paterson. countable, uncountable
  7. 12
    A locale in the United States:; A township in Darke County, Ohio. countable, uncountable
  8. 13
    A locale in the United States:; A village in Hardin County, Ohio; named for railroad official Robert Patterson. countable, uncountable
  9. 14
    A locale in the United States:; A township in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. countable, uncountable
  10. 15
    A neighborhood of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; named for an early landowning family. countable, uncountable
  11. 16
    A township (unincorporated) in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. countable, uncountable

Example

More examples

"A reporter is interviewing Dr. Patterson about Koko, a talking gorilla."

Etymology

From Middle English Pate, short form of Patrick, + -son.

Related phrases

Patterson LakesPatterson syndrome

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.