The gates Surname

gates Name Meaning and History

English: topographic name for someone who lived by the gates of a medieval walled town. The Middle English singular gate is from the Old English plural, gatu, of geat ‘gate’ (see Yates). Since medieval gates were normally arranged in pairs, fastened in the center, the Old English plural came to function as a singular, and a new Middle English plural ending in -s was formed. In some cases the name may refer specifically to the Sussex place Eastergate (i.e. ‘eastern gate’), known also as Gates in the 13th and 14th centuries, when surnames were being acquired.
Americanized spelling of German Götz (see Goetz).
Translated form of French Barrière (see Barriere).

Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4

Learn the meaning and history of your first name

Share this page with friends and family

gates Family Facts

Distribution of gates Families in the US in 1920

Number of gates families

385-767

129-384

1-128

Compiled by Ancestry.co.uk from the 1920 US Federal Census records

Click on a state to view gates census records

Year

You can decide where (in which states) to start searching for gates records.
You can see how gates families moved over time by selecting different Census years.

The information for this map came from Ancestry.co.uk’s US Federal Census Collection.

Census records can tell you little-known facts about your ancestors such as birthplace, residence and occupation.
Click here to search gates census records.

Threads: 1053 - Messages: 2685

Thread	Author	Replies
Samuel Gates, b. 1832, Nova Scotia, Canada	jtennis_1	11
Stephen Gates of Hingham	Stephen M Gates	68
Nathaniel Griffes Gates, b. 1820, NY	ivoa2	0
Joseph GATES Husband of Dolly GATES	MrEdRV99	1
Maryland Gates	Robert Hedgcock	17
Ida M. & Bobby GATES children of Kitty Dolores HAVENS GATES	genealogist_1948	0
Ina Mae Gates, Texas	dellisoh	4
Gates from SOUTH DAKOTA	Jessica Gates	11
Death of Mr. Lorin Hnery Gates in India	davwayell	0
Chauncey Gates brother Seth	Natalie959	11

Viewing 1-10 of 1053 | Go to the full board

Enter a few simple facts about your family. We'll use what you enter to try and find more.

Anonymously contact one of the Ancestry members researching the gates last name.
Search for Ancestry members researching one of your specific ancestors.
Create or update your own Ancestry member profile so that other members can anonymously contact you.
Find out how to get help from other Ancestry members through this tutorial.