Patrick

Where the name comes from

• Latin (via Old Irish)
  patrician, noble; literally “a patrician”
  Latin Patricius, from patricius ‘of the rank of the nobles, of the senators; of fatherly dignity’, from patres conscripti ‘Roman senators’, plural of pater ‘father’
  Old Irish Patraicc, modern Irish Pádraig (etymonline; Woulfe 1923). In ancient Rome the patricians were contrasted with the plebeians (etymonline).

Patrick across traditions

• Christian (Ireland). St. Patrick, who flourished in the 5th century (about 1,525–1,625 years ago) in Britain and Ireland, is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. His feast day is March 17.
• Irish and Scottish naming history. Despite its link with Ireland, the name was “quite rare in medieval Ireland” (DMNES). It became a popular Irish name only after 1600, probably through Scots settlers in Ulster (etymonline, citing Reaney). Early Gaelic-style forms include Padin/Padinus (Ireland, late 12th century) and Padine (Scotland, 1376) (DMNES).
• European. Latin Patricius is attested in England from 1189. As a given name it was used chiefly in northern England and Scotland (etymonline). French forms: Patris (1301), Patrice (1566) (DMNES).
• United States (SSA). Combined births in the seven SSA decade tables: 585,241 boys. Peak decade: 1960s, at #32 (122,717 births). In the top 200 in every decade: #40 (1950s), #32 (1960s), #37 (1970s), #37 (1980s), #42 (1990s), #97 (2000s), #157 (2010s).

Who carried it

• St. Patrick (flourished 5th century (about 1,525–1,625 years ago)): Patron saint and national apostle of Ireland; feast day March 17.

Forms in other languages

Pádraig, Pádraic, Patraicc, Patricius, Padin, Patris, Patrice, Paddy

Patrick in letter-number systems

Hebrew, Greek and other traditions gave every letter a number, and read meaning into the totals. These are the counts, computed; the readings are inside the Innerverse.