GATES
Gates is an English surname of medieval origin, recorded across the British Isles from the late twelfth century onward. The name is principally topographical, denoting proximity to, or occupation associated with, a gate.
The etymology of Gates traces back to the Old English word gatu, the plural of geat meaning “gate”. In the early Middle Ages, gates – often arranged in pairs and fastened in the centre – were a distinctive feature of a town or manor. The plural form of the word was subsequently adopted as a singular, and the addition of the Middle English plural suffix ‑s produced the modern form Gates. Consequently the surname could be applied to a resident who lived beside the town gates, an employee who worked at a gate, or a craftsman who made gates.
The surname has been recorded in several variant spellings: Gate, Jate, Yate, Gait, Jates, Yates and Gaits. These variations reflect regional pronunciations and the evolution of spelling through the Middle and Early Modern periods. The earliest extant record is of Ailricus de la Gata in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire, dated 1169 during the reign of King Henry I, 1154‑1189. Further early instances include Ralph de Gates of Oxfordshire, Richard Overthegate of Derbyshire in 1327 and Custancia del Gates of Yorkshire in 1379. In the thirteenth century, where the village of Eastergate in West Sussex is documented as Gate in the Domesday Book and later as Gates, the surname gained a locational association with that settlement.
Historically significant bearers of the name include Sir Thomas Gates, who served as lieutenant‑general of the Colonisation Company and sailed to Virginia in 1609, later becoming governor in 1611. These individuals illustrate the migration of the surname beyond England’s borders and its involvement in the early administration of the British colonies.
Beyond its topographical sense, Gates may also be a variant of the surname Gatis, derived from the personal name Gat, a short form of Gathlac meaning “battle”. This second derivation suggests that some bearers of the name could have ancestral ties to a person of martial reputation rather than to a gate at all.
In sum, the surname Gates is firmly rooted in English linguistic history, its origin firmly tied to the physical and occupational landscape of medieval towns, while later developments reveal both locational specificities and alternate personal‑name origins. The name’s continued presence in contemporary records attests to its enduring legacy within the British Isles and beyond.
Typical given names associated with the Gates surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Alison
- Ann
- Elizabeth
- Jacqueline
- Julie
- Karen
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Gate
- Gaete
- Gades
- Gaeth
- Gaeta
- Yates
- Gaites
- Gaite
- Gait
- Gatea
- Gaits
- Gat
- Gatess
- Gatey
- Gathe
- Gatie
- Gaties
- Gatis
- Gatos
- Gats
- Gatt
- Gattas
- Gatte
- Gattis
- Gatts
- Gatus
- Gatz
- Gayte
- Goates
- Gaadt
- Gaitt
- Gateau
- Gatej
- Gatesy
- Gatne
- Gatsi
- Gattei
- Gattey
- Gattie
- Gattke
- Gayes
- Ghatas
- Ghate
- Ghatt
- Ghattas
- Ghete
- Guat
- Guate
- Caddis
- Coates
- Gatiss
- Goodes
- Kates
- Katz
- Keates
- Kitts
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Gates in...
Braille
⠛⠁⠞⠑⠎
Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Gates are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Shortbread.
There are approximately 8,366 people named Gates in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,129th most common surname in Britain. Around 128 in a million people in Britain are named Gates.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Gates
- Bill Gates - American business magnate and philanthropist
- Gareth Gates - Singer
- Melinda Gates - American businesswoman, philanthropist and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Horatio Gates - American general in the American Revolutionary War (1727 to 1806)
- Eric Gates - Professional football player
- Stefan Gates - Television presenter
- Tudor Gates - Trade unionist (1930 to 2007)
- Clive Gates - Keyboardist
- Ruth Gates - American marine biologist (1962 to 2018)
- Ernest Gates - Politician (1903 to 1984)
- George Gates - Football player (1883 to 1960)
- Mathew Gates - Figure skater
- Walter Gates - Fencer (1871 to 1939)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.