Surname Peden - Meaning and Origin
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Peden: What does the surname Peden mean?
The surname Peden is of Scottish origin. It is believed to derive from the ancient Celtic personal name, "Padin". The exact meaning of "Padin" is unclear but it may have originated from the Welsh word “peden”, which means "clumsy" or "awkward".
The name Peden is also associated with the famous Scottish prophet and preacher, Alexander Peden, who belonged to the 17th-century Covenanter religious movement that sought to protect Presbyterianism as the sole religion in Scotland.
However, the distribution of the Peden name suggests it might be a variant of the surname Paton or Patton which stem from the personal name Patrick. Therefore, like many surnames, Peden may have multiple roots and meanings, providing a rich tapestry of cultural, geographical, and personal historical significance.
It's important to note that surname meanings are not always clear cut and can be obscured by centuries of language evolution, cultural amalgamation, and migration.
Order DNA origin analysisPeden: Where does the name Peden come from?
Peden is an English and Scottish surname. It is derived from the Old English words "pǣd" and "denu", which mean "a wood, valley, or pasture". Historically, Peden was the surname most commonly given to those who lived by or worked in a wood or valley.
Today, the surname Peden is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and Iowa. In Canada, it is most commonly found in Ontario and Alberta.
In the last decade, Peden has been particularly concentrated in Central and Northern Kentucky and on County Mayo, Ireland. In the United States, Peden is the 1,653rd most common surname, borne by around 13,680 people. In Scotland and Canada, Peden is the 6,066th and 2,409th most common respectively.
In some cases, Peden is spelled differently, such as Pedan, Pedin, Peadon and Peden. Although the spelling is different, these names all share the same origin and meaning. Peden is also sometimes used as a given name, although it is even less common as a first name.
Variations of the surname Peden
The surname Peden is of Scottish origin and is derived from the name Patrick. Variants of the surname Peden include Paddon, Peddin, Peddon, Peddin, Peadon, Peatain, Peatane, and Peton.
The Peden surname was derived from the personal name Patrick. The origin of the name is the patronymic form of the personal name, meaning 'son of Patrick'. The personal name Patrick was introduced by the Normans, and is derived from the Latin name Patricius, from 'patrician', meaning 'noble'. During the Middle Ages, this name became very popular in Scotland, where it was used to refer to a holy man or priest.
Alternative spellings of the Peden surname found in early records include Peadyn, Pedyn, Paydyn, Pedane, and Paten. Many Peden families in the British Isles are descended from families that settled in Ireland prior to the 16th century, when the family adopted the spellings Parry and Parr.
The most popular variation of the Peden surname today is Paden. This variation is most commonly found in the American south and mid-west, and it is believed to have been transferred there by immigrating Peden families.
In Scotland, the Peden name is also found in other areas outside of its original homeland. Other versions of the name including Parkinson, Painton, and Padman, can all be found particularly in the South West of Scotland where many families moved due to economic opportunities.
In conclusion, the surname Peden has many variants and spellings, with Paden being the most popular today. Some of the variants can be traced to certain locations, particularly Scotland. The surname is also found in other countries across the world, due to the movement and migration of families from Scotland over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Peden
- Thomas Peden: former Secretary General of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, a major representative body in Scotland.
- John Peden: retired American football coach who coached from 1977 to 1981 at the United States Military Academy.
- C.D. Peden: American World War I Medal of Honor recipient.
- Freddie Peden: former American football player who played for five teams in the National Football League.
- April Peden: American journalist and executive in the video game industry.
- Ingrid Peden: Scottish historian and political commentator.
- Ken Peden: Fulbright scholar and specialist in global environmental and energy policy.
- Pres Peden: former American professional football player who was aguard and linebacker in the National Football League.
- Jan Peden: Canadian poet and author.
- Burke Peden: American Paralympic athlete who competes in Alpine skiing.