1662, variant of
patron used in foreign contexts, from Du.
patroon or Fr.
patron "master, patron," from O.Fr. (see
patron); used from 1758 in parts of N.Y. and N.J. colonies for "landholder," especially one with certain manorial privileges (abolished c.1850) under the old Dutch governments by the charter of 1629.
[puh-troon] 
