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

Spates, 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 Spates surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spates in America

Spates is the 11476th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spates surname appeared 2,742 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Spates.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spates 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 Spates

The surname Spates is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "spæti," which means "spittle" or "saliva." This suggests that the name may have been initially applied as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who had a tendency to spit frequently or excessively.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Spates can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a person named William Spates is listed. This indicates that the name was already in use by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the Spates family is believed to have originated from the county of Worcestershire in the West Midlands region of England. The name may have been associated with specific localities or places within the county, although the exact locations are uncertain.

In the 16th century, the surname Spates appeared in various records and documents, such as parish registers and tax records. One notable individual from this period was John Spates, born in 1543 in Evesham, Worcestershire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a local magistrate.

As the centuries progressed, the Spates name spread to other parts of England, and variants of the spelling emerged, including Spate, Spayth, and Speight. One notable figure was William Spates, born in 1685 in Lincolnshire, who was a renowned clockmaker and instrument maker in London.

In the 19th century, a few individuals with the Spates surname gained recognition. Thomas Spates, born in 1812 in Gloucestershire, was a renowned author and journalist who wrote extensively on social and political issues of his time. Another notable figure was Elizabeth Spates, born in 1841 in Yorkshire, who was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Additionally, the Spates name can be found in historical records from other parts of the British Isles, such as Scotland and Ireland, suggesting that the name may have migrated or been adopted in these regions as well.

While the surname Spates is not extremely common, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, from landowners and tradesmen to authors and activists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spates

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

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

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

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