Recorded in many forms including Pethick, Petherick, Padrick, Petheridge, Pestricke, Pestridge, and others, this is a Cornish surname. The origin is from the given name Petroc or Pedrek, from the Greek given name Petros (Peter) meaning "The 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 but earlier recordings may exist in unpublished charters. Early church recordings include Austice Pedrick who married Richard Lea on January 26th 1589, at St Andrew's, Plymouth, Devon, 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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