Recorded in several forms including Patriche and Patridge, this is an English surname. It is of early medieval origins and derives from the Old French word "perdriz", itself from the Latin "perdix, perdicis", and means a partridge. As a surname it may be either an occupational name for a breeder or hunter of the partridge bird, or it may derive from a medieval nickname given to someone who had some fancied resemblance to a partridge. Job-descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary, while a sizeable group of early European surnames were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. The nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, or supposed resemblance to an animal's or bird's appearance or disposition. In some cases, the name may be topographical, given in the first instance to someone living in a house distinguished by the sign of a partridge. The surname development since 1176 (see below) includes: John Perdrich of Staffordshire in 1244; Philip Partrich of Cheshire in 1260; Sibil Partryge of Staffordshire in 1332; and John Pattridge of Suffolk in 1622. A John Partridge was an early emigrant to the American Colonies of New England. He left London on the ship "Assurance" in July 1635, bound for Virginia. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ailward Pertriz. This was dated 1176, in the "Pipe Rolls" of Devonshire, during the reign of King Henry 11nd, 1154 - 1189. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.