Gates Family History

The English surname Gate has three possible origins: (i) a topographic name from Middle English gate ‘gate’ (Old English geat dative plural gatum) denoting someone who lived by a gate or set of gates (possibly sometimes an occupational name for a gate keeper; compre Yates);

(ii) in northern England the East Midlands and East Anglia a topographic name from Middle English gate ‘street road path’ (Old Norse gata) for someone who lived by a road (compare Street);

(iii) a nickname meaning ‘goat’ from northern Middle English gate gait (Old English gāt Old Norse geitr). Americanized form of German Götz (see Goetz).

Additionally, it serves as an Americanized form (translation into English) of French Barrière (see Barriere).