Patsy

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Patsy

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:

Patsy is an English diminutive form of Patricia, the feminine form of Patrick, a Latin name meaning “Noble.”
-or-
Patsy is also an English diminutive for the name Martha. Martha comes from an Aramaic name. It originally meant “Mistress of the House,” or “Lady” from “mar” (lord).
-or-
Patsy is also an English diminutive of other names containing the syllable “Pat” or “Pet,” including Hypatia, Patience, Patrice, Patton, Cleopatra, Patterson, Petrona, Petula, etc.

History:
By the 18th century, the names Patsy and Patty were found in English-speaking lands, as a nickname for Martha (which had only become commons since the 16th century). Martha became Patty by dropping the R and switching the M to a P, a process that is also found in such names as Peggy (Meggy, Margaret) and Polly (Molly, Mary). The ending “see” was also found in many girls’ nicknames of the time including Nancy (Nanny), Betsy (Betty), Fancy (Fanny), etc.

Patricia first appeared in Latin on legal documents for girls named Patrick in the Middle Ages. Patricia is not given as a proper name until the 18th century in Scotland, then becoming common in the 19th century and popular in the 20th. The names Patty and Patsy were transferred over to this new name of Patricia, becoming common nicknames for it. Patsy is now almost exclusively tied to the name Patricia, following its waxing and waning of popularity. In the first half of the 20th century, the name Patsy was more popular than Patty. This was reversed in the second half. The name may have declined because of the word “patsy” meaning “a dupe.”

During the 19th century the name Patsy was also found as a nickname for men and boys named Patrick.

Please see Patricia for additional information.

Pronunciation: pat-see.

Famous Bearers:
Miscellaneous:
Martha Washington “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph (1772-1836)
Daughter of Thomas Jefferson.
Patrick “Patsy” O’Hara (m., 1957-1981)
Irish hunger striker.

Singers and Entertainers:
Patsy Montana (Ruby Blevins) (1914-1996)
American singer.
Patsy Cline (Virginia Patterson Hensley) (1932-1963)
American singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.076 % named Patsy

Popularity of Patsy:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 74th most popular. - Martha is #13.
1850: 155th most popular. - Martha is #5.
1875: 323rd most popular. - Martha is #11.
1880: 435th most popular. - Martha is #16.
1881: 490th most popular.
1882: 446th most popular.
1883: 423rd most popular.
1884: 539th most popular.
1885: 459th most popular.
1886: 491st most popular.
1887: 499th most popular.
1888: 533rd most popular.
1889: 499th most popular.
1890: 693rd most popular. - Patricia is # 825; Martha is #22.
1891: 559th most popular.
1892: 638th most popular.
1893: 613th most popular.
1894: 516th most popular.
1895: 685th most popular.
1896: 651st most popular.
1897: 660th most popular.
1898: 571st most popular.
1899: 680th most popular.
1900: 481st most popular. - Patricia is #309; Martha is #28.
1901: 577th most popular.
1902: 559th most popular.
1903: 761st most popular.
1904: 612th most popular.
1905: 537th most popular.
1906: 548th most popular.
1907: 579th most popular.
1908: 511th most popular.
1909: 535th most popular.
1910: 466th most popular. - Patricia is #206; Martha is #24.
1911: 500th most popular.
1912: 479th most popular.
1913: 560th most popular.
1914: 585th most popular.
1915: 576th most popular.
1916: 598th most popular.
1917: 469th most popular.
1918: 520th most popular.
1919: 523rd most popular.
1920: 493rd most popular. - Patricia is #104; Patty is #849; Martha is #23.
1921: 447th most popular.
1922: 399th most popular.
1923: 364th most popular.
1924: 292nd most popular.
1925: 249th most popular.
1926: 198th most popular.
1927: 167th most popular.
1928: 145th most popular.
1929: 118th most popular.
1930: 97th most popular. - Patricia is #7; Patty is #223; Martha is #27.
1931: 83rd most popular.
1932: 77th most popular.
1933: 65th most popular.
1934: 58th most popular.
1935: 56th most popular.
1936: 52nd most popular. - Peak!
1937: 54th most popular.
1938: 55th most popular.
1939: 56th most popular.
1940: 57th most popular. - Patricia is #3; Patty is #175; Martha is #26.
1941: 52nd most popular.
1942: 57th most popular.
1943: 61st most popular.
1944: 72nd most popular.
1945: 84th most popular.
1946: 86th most popular.
1947: 87th most popular.
1948: 98th most popular.
1949: 106th most popular.
1950: 117th most popular. - Patricia is #3; Patty is #250; Martha is #32.
1951: 122nd most popular.
1952: 128th most popular.
1953: 141st most popular.
1954: 154th most popular.
1955: 171st most popular.
1956: 191st most popular.
1957: 207th most popular.
1958: 215th most popular.
1959: 238th most popular.
1960: 271st most popular. - Patricia is #7; Patty is #145.
1961: 291st most popular.
1962: 313th most popular.
1963: 311th most popular.
1964: 335th most popular.
1965: 384th most popular.
1966: 421st most popular.
1967: 444th most popular.
1968: 506th most popular.
1969: 571st most popular.
1970: 567th most popular. - Patricia is #24; Patty is #398.
1971: 627th most popular.
1972: 685th most popular.
1973: 711th most popular.
1974: 754th most popular.
1975: 912th most popular.
1976-2004: N/A

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)