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Cates Family History

Cates Surname Meaning

English (Middlesex and Surrey): from the Middle English reflex of the Old Norse male personal name Káti Kati Kate (from kátr ‘merry’) with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s (Kate was not in use as a pet form of Catherine during the Middle Ages).

See also Kates. Americanized form of German Katz.

See also Kates.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Cates family from?

You can see how Cates families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cates family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cates families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 217 Cates families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Cates's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Cates families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cates surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Cates ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cates. 15% of Cates men worked as a General Labourer and 81% of Cates women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cates were House Painter and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Cates | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    7%
  • Farm Labourer
    7%
  • House Painter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    7%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    2%

What Cates family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 74,000 census records available for the last name Cates. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cates census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cates

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Cates. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cates immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Cates. For the veterans among your Cates ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cates military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cates family history

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What is the average Cates lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Cates life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1950. The average life expectancy for Cates in 1941 was 54, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cates

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cates ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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