Floate Family History
Floate Surname Meaning
The term originates from Middle English words like flote, flout, floit, and flute, which meant ‘stream’ or ‘river’. This can be traced back to the Old English word flot, meaning ‘a body of water’. It was likely used to describe someone who lived near a stream or a similar body of water, or someone who resided in a place named after it, such as Floyte in Tedburn Saint Mary, Devon.
Additionally, the word has connections with terms like Flood and Flutter. Some of the early bearers of the name may alternatively be linked to this meaning.
Another interpretation of its origin comes from the Middle English flote, referring to a ‘(flat-bottomed?) boat’, derived from the Old English flota. This definition suggests that the term could also relate to occupations such as a boatman or sailor.
Comparisons can also be made with Floater and Flodman in this context.
Lastly, the term is linked to Middle English flote, meaning a ‘tool for smoothing the surface of something’, such as a bow or a pewter vessel. This indicates that it could also refer to someone who makes or uses a float, reinforcing its association as an occupation.
Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016