Paton as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Paton

What is the meaning of the name Paton ?

The baby name Paton is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced ˈpeɪtən (PAY-tən),ˈpætən (PAT-ən) — less common.

Paton is English, Scottish in Origin.

Paton is a Scots surname-turned-given name deriving from a medieval pet form of Patrick, ultimately from Latin Patricius, meaning “nobleman” or “of the patrician class.” In Scots, the -on ending functions as a diminutive, so Paton effectively means “little Patrick,” preserving the sense of noble lineage. The name became established across Lowland Scotland and northern England as a hereditary surname, with spellings fluctuating between Paton and Patoun in early records.

As a given name, Paton gained modest use from the 18th century onward, following the British and American custom of adopting family surnames as first names. Recognition of the surname through figures like the missionary John Gibson Paton and South African author Alan Paton helped keep it familiar. Variants and related forms include Paiton and Patton; it is often confused with Payton/Peyton, which has a separate Old English place-name origin. Short form: Pat.