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

Yates, 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 Yates surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yates in America

Yates is the 535th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yates surname appeared 63,254 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 21 people would have the surname Yates.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yates 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 Yates

The surname Yates has its origins in England and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "geat," meaning a gate or opening, and was likely an occupational name for a gatekeeper or someone who lived near a gate. The name is also closely associated with various place names in England, such as Yate in Gloucestershire and Yateley in Hampshire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Iete" and "Iet." In the 13th century, variations like "atte Yate" and "de la Yate" were common, reflecting the influence of Norman French on English surnames.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Yates was John atte Yate, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. Another early example is Richard del Yate, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1285.

Over the centuries, the surname Yates has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Sir Robert Yates (1599-1679), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was Edmund Yates (1831-1894), a British novelist and journalist who co-founded the popular magazine The World.

Other notable individuals with the surname Yates include:

1. Walter Yates (1646-1718), an English seaman and explorer known for his voyages to the West Indies and South America.
2. Robert Yates (1738-1801), an American revolutionary and one of the signers of the United States Constitution.
3. Edmund Hodgson Yates (1831-1894), a British novelist, playwright, and journalist best known for his novel "Black Sheep."
4. Frances Amelia Yates (1899-1981), an English historian and scholar of Renaissance studies, known for her work on the Hermetic tradition.
5. Christopher Yates (1786-1848), an English actor and playwright who wrote several successful comedies in the early 19th century.

The surname Yates has maintained its presence throughout history, with numerous variations and spellings emerging over time, such as Yate, Yeats, and Yeates. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of individuals with diverse backgrounds and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yates

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

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

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

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