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

Nate, 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 Nate surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nate in America

Nate is the 40261st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nate surname appeared 544 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 Nate.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nate 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 Nate

The surname Nate is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "neat," which means "cattle" or "livestock." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a cattle herder or farmer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nate can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation conducted in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, including Nate, Nette, and Nete, indicating that it was already in use at that time.

During the Middle Ages, the name Nate was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Devon in southwestern England. These areas were known for their rich agricultural traditions, which may explain the name's association with cattle and farming.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Nate was recorded as a landowner in the village of Tisbury, Wiltshire. Another early example is John Nate, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1249.

Over the centuries, the name has also been linked to various place names across England, such as Nately Scures in Hampshire and Natesby in Northamptonshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname Nate in different regions.

Some prominent individuals who have borne the surname Nate throughout history include:

1. Sir Robert Nate (c. 1450-1518), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.
2. John Nate (c. 1520-1588), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Headmaster of Winchester College.
3. William Nate (1615-1679), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Taunton during the Commonwealth period.
4. Elizabeth Nate (1678-1738), a renowned English botanist and naturalist known for her contributions to the study of plants.
5. Thomas Nate (1789-1865), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an admiral.

While the surname Nate is not as common as some other English surnames, it has persisted over the centuries and continues to be carried by families today, reflecting its deep historical roots and connections to the agricultural heritage of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nate

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

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

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

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