This interesting surname of Scottish origin is a double diminutive of Patrick, Pad being a pet name for the personal name Patrick, itself coming from the latin Patricius, son of a noble father, member of the patrician class, the Roman hereditary aristocracy, plus the diminutive "kin" hence "little pad". The surname date's back to the late 16th Century, (see below). Marion, daughter of Robert and Elspeth Wast Padkin, was christened in Edinburgh Parish on March 17th 1706. Alexander, son of John and Jane Padkin, was christened at St. Marylebone, Marylebone Road, London on February 7th 1779, and Mary, daughter of John and Jane Padkin, was christened on February 11th 1781, at St. Marylebone, Marylebone Road, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Patkin married Elisabeth Lussing, which was dated 1593, St. Margaret, Westminster, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.