Patrician

from the Latin Patricius, one descended from a noble family. The term was used among the Romans, to distinguish the higher cla of the inhabitants of Rome from the lower, who were called plebeians. Romulus, as soon as the city of Rome was tolerably well filled with inhabitants, made a distinction of the people. The names Peter, Patrick, are from pater a father; the Roman senate were called Patres conscript i. See Patron. Order of St. PATRICK . There is only one order of knighthood which belongs to Ireland; it is that of St. Patrick, and was created by Geo. III. for corrupt purposes.