This interesting surname is probably of Cornish origin. It has the variant spellings of Pethick, Petherick, Padrick, Petheridge, etc. The origin is from the given name Petroc or Pedrek, a diminutive of the personal name Peter, itself coming from the Greek given name Petros meaning "rock". St. Petroc is the local saint of Cornwall, of whom very little of historical value is known, but who is commemorated in several placenames, including Padstow originally Sancte Petroces Stow. The surname would seem to date from the mid 16th Century, (see below). but earlier recordings may exist in charters. Church recordings include Austice Pedrick who married Richard Lea on January 26th 1589, at St Andrew's, Plymouth, Devon, Dinnes Pedrick who was christened on February 26th 1599, at St Just in Roseland, Cornwall and Roger Pedrick who married Rebekah Holeman in 1645, at Shadwell, London. Other recordings include Richard Potteridge christened at St Andrews by the Tower (of London), on September 2nd 1632, and Thomes Petheridge, son of Thomas and Hannah, christened at St Andrews, Holborn, London, on May 12th 1839. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Pedricke, which was dated 1560, who married Alse Predom, at St David's Exeter, Devon, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "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.

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