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If any of you are still following this, there is a book (privately published) on this name, traced to one man in the 18th century who had it. YES, it is a German Mennonite name since everyone in the world with this name is related by descent, marriage or adoption. it is most likely a French Huegonot name, because the original spelling was Paethkeau (in French the th is said like a T and the eau like a long o and it is said with a long A and a long O sound so that it rhymes with WAIT Foe-- There are two alternate spellings, Patkau and Petkau, and the latter isn't phonetic

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The Paetkaus fled to Ukraine in the 18th century in the Mennonite diaspora to avoid conscription--other Mennonites to Argentina and Pennsylvania. In the 20th century, Paetkaus had to escape the soviets, and most ended up in North America, primarily in Canada, but some went to Argentina. My grandparents fled in 1927, they year they were married.