Paterson is a Scottish, English, and Irish surname meaning "Fathers' son" or "son of Patrick". In Connacht, and Ulster, the name is considered to be an Anglicised form of the Irish language surname Ó Casáin. Paterson is rarely used as a given name. There are other spellings, including Patterson. Notable people with the surname include:
Aileen Paterson, Scottish children's writerAlexander Paterson, Australian politicianSir Alexander Paterson, British prison reformerAlgy Paterson, Australian last speaker of the Martuthunira languageAndrew J. Paterson, Canadian artistBanjo Paterson, Australian poetBarbara Paterson, Canadian sculptorBasil A. Paterson (1926–2014), New York politicianBill Paterson (actor), Scottish actorCallum Paterson, Scottish footballerChris Paterson, Scottish rugby playerColin Paterson, Scottish entrepreneurCory Paterson, Australian Rugby League playerDavid Paterson, New York GovernorDon Paterson, Scottish poetFred Paterson, Australian politicianGil Paterson, Scottish politicianHelen Mary Elizabeth Paterson, birth name of Helen Allingham (1848–1926), English painterIain Paterson, Scottish baritoneIsabel Paterson, Canadian libertarian writerJames Paterson (disambiguation), multiple peopleJames Hamilton-Paterson, British novelist and poetJamie Paterson (disambiguation), several peopleJennifer Paterson (1928–1999), British television chefJodi Ann Paterson, American model and actressJohn Paterson (disambiguation), multiple peopleKatherine Paterson, American children's writerLee Paterson, rugby league footballer for Scotland, Keighley Cougars, York, Batley Bulldogs, Carpentras XIII, Widnes Vikings, and Featherstone RoversLloyd H. Paterson (1925–1988), New York politicianMartin Paterson, English born Northern Ireland footballerMatthew C. Paterson (died 1846), New York County D.A.Meg Paterson, fictional character from Monarch of the GlenMike Paterson, Professor of Computer Science at the University of WarwickNeil Paterson (disambiguation), multiple peopleOwen Paterson, British politicianOwen Paterson, Australian production designer on The Matrix SeriesRex Paterson, British agriculturalistRobert Paterson (disambiguation), multiple peopleStan Paterson (1924–2013), British glaciologistTim Paterson, American computer programmer, author of MS-DOSTom Paterson, Scottish comics artistWilliam Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people