Blaté last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Blaté

A Scottish surname possibly derived from the French word "blé" meaning blond or fair-haired.

Blaté, 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 Blaté surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Blaté in America

Blaté is the 134037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blaté surname appeared 116 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Blaté.

The history of the last name Blaté

The surname Blate traces its origins back to Scotland, with its roots buried firmly in the ancient Anglo-Saxon period, roughly between the 7th and 11th centuries. The name first emerged in the southern regions of Scotland, particularly in the Lowlands, an area rich with historical confluences of distinct cultures and languages including Gaelic, Norse, and Anglo-Saxon. The earliest spellings of the name are believed to derive from the Old English word "blǣt," which means pale or wan, possibly used as a nickname for someone with a pale complexion.

The first notable historical reference to the surname Blate dates back to the 12th century in Scotland, recorded in early charters and legal documents. One of the oldest records appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were submissions of loyalty to Edward I of England by Scottish nobility and landowners during the Wars of Scottish Independence. There, a John Blate is mentioned as a landholder, emphasizing the name’s historic presence in Scottish society.

By the 14th century, variations of the surname began to appear in different regions. In 1327, a certain William Blate is documented in Scottish records as a landowner who managed vast farm estates in the vicinity of Aberdeen. This period saw the surname predominantly associated with agrarian and landholding roles, reflecting the medieval societal structure that placed significant importance on land and agriculture.

Moving into the 15th century, the name saw further diversification in its spelling, capturing regional dialectical influences. The Blate family was also mentioned in maritime records, with Alexander Blate, born around 1472 and deceased in 1530, becoming well-known as a merchant who traded goods between Scotland and Norway. This maritime engagement highlights the name's spread beyond the Scottish borders during the late Middle Ages.

By the 16th century, the surname had proliferated into different societal roles. Robert Blate, born in 1565 and passed away in 1634, garnered attention as a notable figure in the Scottish legal system, particularly for his reforms in property laws. His documented works provide an insight into legal practices of his time and how the surname was entangled in significant societal contributions.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Blate continued to be infused within Scottish heritage and antiquity. The names John Blate, William Blate, Alexander Blate, and Robert Blate serve as commemorative links to the surname’s storied past, reflecting its roots and evolution through different periods of Scottish history. Their contributions remain fragments of history that aid in understanding the origin and legacy of the surname Blate.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blaté

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Blaté was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 68.10% 79
Non-Hispanic Black Only 31.90% 37
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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.

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 Blaté was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Blaté last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 3, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/blate-surname-popularity/.

"Blaté last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/blate-surname-popularity/. Accessed 3 July, 2025

Blaté last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/blate-surname-popularity/.

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