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

Gates, 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 Gates surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gates in America

Gates is the 648th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gates surname appeared 52,569 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Gates.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gates 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 Gates

The surname Gates originated in England and is thought to have derived from the Old English word 'geat' meaning 'gate' or 'opening'. It is believed to have been an occupational surname given to individuals who were employed as gatekeepers or those who lived near a gate or opening in a fence or wall.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gates dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as 'Ate Gate' and 'Atte Gate', indicating its connection to an individual's proximity to a gate or entrance.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Gates was prevalent in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. It is also believed to have been associated with certain place names, such as Gateshead in County Durham, which derives its name from the Old English 'Gæt' meaning 'goat' and 'heafod' meaning 'head'.

Some notable historical figures with the surname Gates include Sir John Gates (1504-1553), who was a prominent English soldier and courtier during the reign of Henry VIII. Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Gates (1585-1622), an English soldier and governor of Virginia Colony who played a significant role in the early settlement of the Americas.

In the 17th century, the surname Gates was also associated with Tomas Gates (1610-1688), an English colonist and landowner in Virginia. Additionally, Horatio Gates (1728-1806) was an English-born American general who played a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War, most notably for his victory over the British at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

Another prominent figure with the surname Gates was William Gates (1788-1868), an English author and historian who specialized in the history of Essex and Hertfordshire. His works, such as "The History of Hertfordshire" and "The History of Thetford," are considered valuable resources for studying the history of these regions.

Throughout history, the surname Gates has been associated with various occupations, from gatekeepers and soldiers to authors and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to the Old English word 'geat', the surname has evolved and spread across different regions, leaving a lasting impact on the historical records of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gates

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!