Fugate last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Fugate

Derived from Middle English "fogge," referring to long grass, and "gate," meaning road, likely denoting someone living near a grassy path.

Fugate, 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 Fugate surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fugate in America

Fugate is the 3441st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fugate surname appeared 10,375 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Fugate.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fugate 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 3441 3263 5.31%
Count 10,375 10,055 3.13%
Proportion per 100k 3.52 3.73 -5.79%

The history of the last name Fugate

The surname Fugate is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "fugol," meaning "bird." It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who was associated with birds, perhaps a hunter or a bird keeper.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fugate can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fugel." This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name took on various spellings, including "Fugail," "Fugel," and "Fugill," reflecting the evolution of the English language over time. These variations can be found in various historical records and documents from that period.

The name Fugate has been linked to several place names in England, such as Fuggleswick in North Yorkshire and Fugglesgate in Cumbria. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Fugate throughout history include:

  1. Sir Robert Fugate (c. 1560-1628), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I.

  2. William Fugate (1773-1848), an American pioneer and frontiersman who established settlements in Kentucky and Tennessee.

  3. Reverend John Fugate (1810-1892), an American Baptist minister and abolitionist who played a significant role in the Underground Railroad.

  4. Martha Fugate (1834-1915), an American quilter and folk artist known for her intricate quilting patterns and designs.

  5. Samuel Fugate (1892-1972), an American author and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Kentucky and the Appalachian region.

The surname Fugate has a rich history, reflecting its English origins and the migrations of its bearers across different regions and continents. While its usage may have evolved over time, the name remains a testament to the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped the English language and its associated surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fugate

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

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 Fugate was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 91.07% 9,449
Non-Hispanic Black Only 3.75% 389
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.43% 45
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.67% 70
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.02% 210
Hispanic Origin 2.05% 213

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 Fugate has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 91.07% 92.13% -1.16%
Black 3.75% 3.63% 3.25%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.43% 0.47% -8.89%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.67% 0.78% -15.17%
Two or More Races 2.02% 1.47% 31.52%
Hispanic 2.05% 1.52% 29.69%

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fugate, 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!

"Fugate last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/fugate-surname-popularity/.

"Fugate last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/fugate-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

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

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