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

Yeates, 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 Yeates surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yeates in America

Yeates is the 15651st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yeates surname appeared 1,866 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 Yeates.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yeates 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 Yeates

The surname Yeates has its origins in England, particularly during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Middle English word "yate", which means "gate". This in turn comes from the Old English word "geat" of the same meaning. Hence, the Yeates surname would have initially been a topographical name for someone who lived by a gate, or possibly an occupational name for a gatekeeper.

This surname first appeared in records dating back to the 12th century. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, listing Eustace del Yate. This indicates that the name was in use and associated with recognizable individuals by that time.

In 1275, an Adam del Yate was recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, depicting the continuing presence and usage of the surname in this area. Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Ralph atte Yate is documented, further illustrating the geographical spread and social prominence of those bearing the name.

Through the centuries, various spellings of the surname have been noted, including Yates and Yetts. This is typical of many surnames from medieval times, as spelling was not standardized and often depended on the phonetic rendering by scribes and officials. One prominent bearer of the surname was George Yeates, a merchant who lived in London in the 16th century.

Famous individuals with the surname Yeates include Thomas Yeates, an English painter and art dealer born in 1768 and known for his contributions to the arts. Another notable figure is William Yeates Hurlstone, an English composer born in 1876 who made significant contributions to chamber music before his untimely death in 1906.

The surname also crossed geographic boundaries, appearing in Irish records. For instance, Abraham Yeates, who settled in County Waterford during the early 17th century, shows the spread of the surname beyond its English roots.

Additional notable individuals include John Butler Yeats, an Irish artist born in 1839, and the father of the famous poet W.B. Yeats. George Yeates, an Australian politician born in 1884, further represents the international dispersion of the surname and its bearers' influence in various global contexts.

The surname Yeates, with its variations and extensive history, holds a significant place among English and Irish surnames, illustrating the evolution of surnames from practical origins to identifiers of social and familial heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yeates

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

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

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

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