Clan Paterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Paterson |
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|---|---|
| Motto | Huc Tendimus Omnes (We all strive for this) |
| Profile | |
| District | Bannockburn, Stirling |
| Clan Paterson has no chief, and is an armigerous clan | |
| Historic seat | Bannockburn House |
Clan Paterson (in Scottish Gaelic: MacPhadraig) is a Scottish clan from the Lowlands. A "clan" is a group of families linked by a common ancestor or shared history. This clan is officially recognized in Scotland. However, it does not currently have a chief. Because of this, it is known as an Armigerous clan. This means it has a coat of arms but no official leader.
Contents
History of Clan Paterson
Where Did the Patersons Come From?
The name Paterson comes from the Scottish Gaelic MacPhadraig. This name likely means "son of the devotee of Saint Patrick". A "devotee" is someone who is very dedicated to a person or belief. This suggests that an early ancestor might have been a churchman. In the early Celtic church, priests were allowed to marry. Or, it could mean the ancestor was a "layman". A layman is a person who is not a priest but still part of the church's organization.
Around the late 1200s, Patersons settled near Loch Fyne in Scotland. The name became very common across the Scottish Lowlands. By 1994, Paterson was one of the twenty most common surnames in that area.
Patersons in the 15th and 16th Centuries
Records show that a "gentleman" named William Paterson was a witness to an important document in Aberdeen in 1446. Later, in 1563, James Paterson held an important job. He was the sheriff-depute of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. A sheriff-depute helps the main sheriff keep law and order. James Paterson later became the Provost of Inverness. A provost is like a mayor of a town.
Key Patersons in the 17th and 18th Centuries
One famous Paterson was William Paterson. He helped create the Bank of England. This is a very important bank in the United Kingdom. However, he is also known for a plan that did not go well. This was the Darien scheme.
The Darien scheme was an attempt to start a Scottish colony. A "colony" is a settlement in a new land controlled by another country. This colony was planned in Central America, in a place called the isthmus of Darien. The plan was a disaster and caused many problems for Scotland.
Another interesting story involves the Paterson family during the Jacobite rising of 1745. This was a time when supporters of Prince Charles Edward Stuart tried to regain the Scottish throne. In January 1746, Sir Hugh Paterson, 2nd Baronet (of Bannockburn) hosted Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Sir Hugh’s niece, Clementina, had a daughter with Prince Charlie. Her name was Charlotte Stuart, Duchess of Albany. Bannockburn House is still standing today. It looks much like it did when "Bonnie" Prince Charlie visited it.
Highland Patersons and Other Clans
The Scottish surname Paterson is also linked to other clans. It is considered a "sept" of the Clan MacLaren and Clan Farquharson. A "sept" is a family that belongs to a larger clan. These clans were mainly based in the Scottish Highlands.
See also
