History of your Surname
Get access to Patersen family records.Start a free trial

Patersen Family History

Patersen Name 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: Petersen, Paterson, Peterson, Patterson, Pettersen, Waterson

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Patersen family from?

You can see how Patersen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Patersen family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Patersen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 19 Patersen families living in New York. This was about 30% of all the recorded Patersen's in USA. New York had the highest population of Patersen families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Patersen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Patersen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Inspector were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Patersen. 45% of Patersen men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Patersen women worked as an Inspector. Some less common occupations for Americans named Patersen were Machinist and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Patersen | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    45%
  • Laborer
    23%
  • Foreman
    12%
  • Machinist
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Inspector
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Patersen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 711 census records available for the last name Patersen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Patersen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Patersen

Passenger Lists

There are 380 immigration records available for the last name Patersen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Patersen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 57 military records available for the last name Patersen. For the veterans among your Patersen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Patersen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Patersen family history

Discover More

What is the average Patersen lifespan?

Between 1964 and 1976, in the United States, Patersen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1964, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Patersen in 1964 was 46, and 61 in 1976.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Patersen

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Patersen family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Patersen last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial