Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Patun 1086 DB

• Patone 1537 Kendi,75

• Pattun, Patton(e) 1154–89,1214–20(1294) Ch 1216–72 Kendi,251 1230–49 Cockers 1247 Ipm 1662 RateK

• Patten 1614 PR(K)

Etymology

The first el. is probably OE  pæð 'path', used in various senses like 'path between banks, cattle track', etc.; it might indeed refer to the track of the Roman road from Natland to Low Borrow Bridge (Road III, i, 20 supra ). Alternatively, as Ekwall notes, it might be an OE  pers.n. Patta , recorded only in OE Pattan dene 973–4 BCS 1307 (cf. Patmore Hrt 169). v. tūn 'farmstead'.