Mate
A surname derived from the Spanish word "mate" meaning friend or companion.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,234 Americans carry the last name Mate. That puts it at #23,662 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.36 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 277,759 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mate surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.2K
1 in 277,759
Census rank
#23,662
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,071 bearers of the surname Mate in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.36 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 23662nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mate, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (6.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mate
The surname MATE is believed to have originated from Spain in the 16th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "mate," which means "a friend" or "a companion." This term stems from the Latin word "mātēs," which means "comrades" or "allies."
In the early days, the surname MATE was likely bestowed upon individuals who were known for their loyalty, camaraderie, and companionship. It may have been used to describe close friends, trusted allies, or even brothers-in-arms during times of war or conflict.
One of the earliest records of the surname MATE can be found in the archives of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Sobrado, located in Galicia, Spain. This document, dated 1572, mentions a certain Rodrigo MATE, who was a landowner and benefactor of the monastery.
Another notable figure bearing the surname MATE was Juan MATE, a Spanish explorer who accompanied the famous conquistador Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Juan MATE played a crucial role in interpreting and establishing communication between the Spanish and the indigenous populations.
In the 17th century, the surname MATE began to spread across other regions of Spain, as well as to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One prominent individual from this era was Diego MATE, a Spanish-born soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1672 to 1675.
As the surname MATE traveled across the Atlantic, it also found its way to other parts of the world. In the late 18th century, a man named James MATE, born in 1759, was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
Another notable figure with the surname MATE was María MATE, a Spanish painter and engraver who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She was known for her intricate etchings and engravings depicting religious and historical scenes.
The surname MATE has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For instance, there is a small town called Mate in the province of Valencia, Spain, which may have derived its name from the surname or vice versa.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mate
Among Census respondents with the surname Mate, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (6.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Mate bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mate surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.1%
- Hispanic or Latino7.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander6.5%
- Black or African American3.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mate surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,662 | #23,662 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,071 | 1,071 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Mate bearers went from 1,071 to 1,071 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #23,662 to #23,662.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mate
FAQ
Mate surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mate?
The surname Mate holds position #23,662 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,234 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.36 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mate surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mate, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (6.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.