Dorothy Hinshaw Patent: Hello. My name is Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. I was borne Dorothy Hinshaw, and got the last name Patent when I married my husband, Greg. Believe it or not, Patent is actually a Russian name, although it doesn't look like one. Greg's father was born in Siberia, which is part of Russia. The Russians pronounce the name Pa-TENT, and the British say Pay-tent. But here in the United States, it's Patent, just like US patent office or patent leather shoes.