Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
MOATE
As described in historical dictionaries
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
IMOAT. MOATE. 1\I0ATES. From residence at a moated enclosure. Many places so defended acquired the specific name of The IMoat. \Iote, without prefix, is found in the H.R.