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Kates Family History

Kates Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Katz. See also Cates.

English: variant of Cates.

German: patronymic from the personal name Kat(t)e (see Katt).

This surname is very rare in Germany.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kates family from?

You can see how Kates families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kates family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kates families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 60 Kates families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Kates's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Kates families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kates 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 Kates ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Ladies Outfitter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kates. 34% of Kates men worked as a Ladies Outfitter and 78% of Kates women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kates were Motor Engineer and Domestic.

View Census Data for Kates | 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

  • Ladies Outfitter
    34%
  • Master Baker
    34%
  • Motor Engineer
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Domestic
    5%

What Kates family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Kates. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kates census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kates

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Kates. 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 Kates immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Kates. For the veterans among your Kates ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kates military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kates family history

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What is the average Kates lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Kates life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Kates in 1943 was 21, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kates

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kates 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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