Paterson is a Scottish and Irish surname meaning "Father's son" or "son of Patrick". In Connacht, and Ulster, the name is considered to be an Anglicised form of the Irish language surname àCasáin. Paterson is rarely used as a given name. There are other spellings, including Patterson. Notable people with the surname include:
- Adrian Paterson, South African-Australian nuclear scientist
- Aileen Paterson (1934âÂÂ2018), Scottish children's writer
- Andrew Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alasdair Paterson, Scottish poet
- Alex Paterson (born 1959), English musician
- Alexander Paterson (1844âÂÂ1908), Australian politician
- Sir Alexander Paterson (1884âÂÂ1947), British prison reformer
- Algy Paterson (died 1995), Australian last speaker of the Martuthunira language
- Andrew J. Paterson (born 1952), Canadian artist
- Archie Paterson (1908âÂÂ1995), Scottish footballer
- Banjo Paterson (1864âÂÂ1941), Australian poet
- Barbara Paterson (born 1935), Canadian sculptor
- Basil A. Paterson (1926âÂÂ2014), New York politician
- Bill Paterson (footballer, born 1897) (1897âÂÂ1970), Scottish footballer
- Bill Paterson (footballer, born 1930) (1930âÂÂ2002), Scottish footballer
- Bill Paterson (actor) (born 1945), Scottish actor
- Callum Paterson (born 1994), Scottish footballer
- Charles Paterson (1882âÂÂ1973), Scottish cricketer
- Chris Paterson (born 1978), Scottish rugby union player
- Chris Paterson (rugby league) (born 1980), Australian rugby league player
- Craig Paterson (born 1959), Scottish footballer
- Colin Paterson (born 1974), Scottish journalist and broadcaster
- Cory Paterson (born 1987), Australian rugby league player
- David Paterson (born 1954), American politician, Governor of New York
- Don Paterson (born 1963), Scottish poet, writer and musician
- Emma Paterson (1848âÂÂ1886), English feminist and trade unionist
- Fred Paterson (1897âÂÂ1977), Australian politician
- Gil Paterson (born 1942), Scottish politician
- Helen Paterson, birth name of Helen Allingham (1848âÂÂ1926), British painter
- Iain Paterson (born 1973), Scottish baritone
- Isabel Paterson (1886âÂÂ1961), Canadian libertarian writer
- Jack Paterson (born 1974), Canadian director, devisor, dramaturg, translator, actor
- James Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- James Hamilton-Paterson (born 1941), British novelist and poet
- Jamie Paterson (disambiguation), several people
- Jennifer Paterson (1928âÂÂ1999), British television chef
- Jodi Ann Paterson (born 1975), American model and actress
- John Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Katherine Paterson (born 1932), American children's writer
- Lee Paterson (born 1981), British rugby league footballer
- Lloyd H. Paterson (1925âÂÂ1988), New York politician
- Marr Paterson (1887âÂÂ?), Scottish footballer
- Markus Paterson (born 1998), British-Filipino actor, singer, television host, and footballer
- Martin Paterson (born 1987), British football player and coach
- Matthew C. Paterson (died 1846), American lawyer and politician from New York
- Meg Paterson, fictional character in British TV series Monarch of the Glen
- Mike Paterson (born 1942), British computer scientist
- Neil Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Owen Paterson (born 1956), British politician
- Owen Paterson, Australian production designer on The Matrix films
- Rex Paterson (1902âÂÂ1978), English agricultural pioneer
- Robert Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Stan Paterson (1924âÂÂ2013), British glaciologist
- Tania Paterson (born 1972), New Zealand competitive diver
- Thomas Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tim Paterson (born 1956), American computer programmer, author of MS-DOS
- Tom Paterson, Scottish comics artist
- Viola Paterson (1899âÂÂ1981), Scottish painter, wood engraver and colour woodcut artist
- William Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
See also