Find out how popular the last name Agate is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Agate.

Agate, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Agate surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Agate in America

Agate is the 52482nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Agate surname appeared 395 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Agate.

We can also compare 2010 data for Agate to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Agate

The surname Agate is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "gat," which referred to a passage or opening, particularly in reference to a gate or passageway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gayte" and "Gatte." These variations suggest that the name was initially associated with someone who lived near a gate or resided in a place with a significant gate or passageway.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Agate was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. It is believed that the name may have originated from place names such as Gatehouse, Gate Burton, or Gate Fulbeck, all of which were located in these regions.

One notable bearer of the name was John Agate, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived in the 14th century. He served as the Mayor of Norwich in 1370 and played a significant role in the city's affairs during his lifetime.

Another individual with the surname Agate was William Agate, a 16th-century English clergyman and scholar. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1508 and later became the Rector of Fringford in Oxfordshire, where he served until his death in 1578.

In the 17th century, the name Agate was associated with the family of Sir Samuel Agate, a wealthy landowner and member of the English gentry. Sir Samuel was born in 1628 and owned several estates in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

During the 18th century, the surname Agate gained recognition through the works of John Agate, a well-known English engraver and artist. He was born in London in 1727 and is best remembered for his intricate engravings of architectural subjects and landscapes.

Another notable figure with the surname Agate was William Agate, a renowned English architect who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Stafford, which was completed in 1798.

As the surname Agate spread across England and later to other parts of the world, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Agatt, Agat, and Agathe. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its connection to gates, passageways, and specific locations associated with these features.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Agate

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Agate.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Agate was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Agate has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Agate was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Agate, please contact us.

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