There are two possible origins for this name. The first being personal and deriving from the 'Son of Prancras' and found as a Christian name as recently as 1530 in Oxford, the second is as an alternative spelling of Partridge, itself a development of Patrick or as a job description for a hunter of partridge. Partridge derives mainly from the Olde French, Perdix, and local spellings have included Pattarage, Putteridge, Partriche, etc. (Robert Pankridge, 1608, married, St. James, Clerkenwell, London). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Philip Partrick. which was dated 1260, The Cheshire Assize Court. during the reign of King Henry 111, the Frenchman 1216 - 1272 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.