ðə nˈeɪm ʌvðə fˈæmɪli kˈʌmz fɹʌmðə dʒˈɛnəs nˈeɪm ʌvðə tˈaɪp spˈiːsiːz pˈæɾiːkəs, wˌɪtʃ ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌm pætˈeɪkoʊz, ɐ stɹˈeɪndʒli ʃˈeɪpt dwˈɔːɹflˈaɪk foʊnˈɪʃən dˈiːəti wˌɪtʃ wʌz jˈuːzd æz ɐ fˈɪɡjɚhˌɛd ɔnðə pɹˈaʊz ʌv ʃˈɪps.
The name of the family comes from the genus name of the type species Pataecus, which is derived from Pataikos, a strangely shaped dwarf-like Phoenician deity which was used as a figurehead on the prows of ships.