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Gates History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Gates History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Gates is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Gates family lived in various counties of England and later in Scotland. The name, however, refers to the family's residence near an important thoroughfare or main road. It derives from the Old English root gate, which means road or thoroughfare.

Early Origins of the Gates family

The surname Gates was first found in various counties of England and Scotland. The earliest record of the family was Ailricius de la Gata who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Devon in 1169. 1

A few years later, Ralph de Gates was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1206 and later, Gilbert atte Gate was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1275. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275 list Cristina Gate. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Hugh le Geyt in Oxfordshire and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 has numerous entries for the family: Johannes Gayte; Thomas de Gayte; Jonannes atte Gate; Robertus de Gate; and Custancia del Gates. Silvester atte Gates was rector of Brinton, Norfolk in 1354. 2 "Its medieval forms are Ate Gate and atte Gate, which have since the XV. cent. modified to Agate, Gater, and especially to Gates." 3

Later a branch of the family was found in the parish of Knedlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. "The old Hall [of Knedlington], a fine specimen of the Elizabethan style, was possessed by Sir John Gate, a distinguished knight in the reign of Henry VIII." 4

And further to the north in Scotland, all of the entries and later typically showing a migration from England to Scotland. Patrick Gaittis was minister of Polwarth from 1593 to 1604. A seal dated 1605 reads "Master Patrik Gaittie, minister, vndoutit persone of the perochin and paroche kirk of dunce." In modern English, it translates as " S' Patricii Gait. Patrick Gaittis and James Gaittis were ministers of Duns from 1582 to 1611 and John Gaittis was minister of Bunkle from 1614 to 1640." 5 Black continues "Gate is common element in place names on both sides of the Border."

Early History of the Gates family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gates research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1164, 1206, 1260, 1379, 1504, 1526, 1535, 1536, 1553, 1596, 1608, 1609, 1621, 1685, 1702, 1718 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Gates History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gates Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Gate, Gates and others.

Early Notables of the Gates family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Bernard Gates (1685?-1773), English musician, the second son of Bernard Gates, gentleman, of St. Margaret's, Westminster, whose will was proved on 21 May 1718. His name appears in the list of children...
Sir John Gates (1504?-1553), was an English statesman, born about 1504, was the eldest son of Sir Geoffrey Gates (d. 1526) by Elizabeth, daughter of William Clopton (Morant, Essex, ii. 146, 457). Henr...
Sir Thomas Gates (fl. 1596-1621), was Governor of Virginia and was knighted in 1596 while serving in the expedition against Cadiz. "In April 1608 he obtained from the States-General leave of absence f...

Gates Ranking

In the United States, the name Gates is the 511^st most popular surname with an estimated 57,201 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Gates is ranked the 921^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,283 people with that name. 7

Gates migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Gates or a variant listed above:

Gates Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Sir Thomas Gates, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, they managed to build a new ship to continue to Jamestown in 1610, was Governor of Virginia (1611 - 1614) 8
Elizabeth Gates, who landed in Virginia in 1620 8
Stephen Gates sailed in the "Diligent" and settled in Hingham in 1638
Ann Gates, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1638
Stephen Gates, who arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1638 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gates Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sarah Gates, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1729 8
Peter Gates, who settled in Potomac Maryland in 1731
Tho Gates, who landed in Virginia in 1751 8
Jeremy Gates, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Gates Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Victor Gates, who arrived in America in 1811 8
Thomas Gates, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1823 8
William Gates, who landed in New York in 1827 8
William W Gates, who landed in Texas in 1835 8
Bartholomew Gates, who arrived in Texas in 1835 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gates migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gates Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Gates was a soldier of St. John's, Newfoundland in 1778 9
Benjamin Gates, who settled in Fogo, Newfoundland in 1787 9

Gates Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Isaac P Gates, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Michael Gates, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1838
John and Josiah Gates, who settled in Tizzard's Harbour in 1871

Gates migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gates Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Gates, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Martha Gates, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Amphitrite" on August 21, 1833, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
Miss Catherine Gates, (McDonnacle, McMonigall, McDonald, Fraser), Scottish Convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atwick" on 28 September 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Eleanor Gates, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Henry Porcher" in 1838 13
James Gates, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Henry Porcher" in 1838 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gates migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gates Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Sarah Gates, (b. 1814), aged 49, British settler, from Kent travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 14
Mr. Alfred Gates, (b. 1852), aged 11, British settler, from Kent travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 14
Miss Jane Cecil Gates, (b. 1864), aged Infant, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 14
Mrs. Elizabeth J Gates, (b. 1833), aged 31, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 14
Mr. Thomas A Gates, (b. 1833), aged 31, British joiner travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gates (post 1700) +

William Henry "Bill" Gates III (b. 1955), American software entrepreneur and philanthropist, former CEO of Microsoft, consistently ranked in the Forbes list of the world's wealthiest people, now known for the benevolent Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
William Henry Gates II (1925-2020), better known as Bill Gates Sr., an American attorney, philanthropist, and civic leader, father of Bill Gates from Microsoft
Crawford Marion Gates (1921-2018), American musician, composer, and conductor
Mary Maxwell Gates (1929-1994), American businesswoman and academic, Member of University of Washington board of regents (1975-1993); she worked a fellow committee member John Opel, CEO of IBM and suggested her son's company Microsoft could provide an operating system for IBM, mother of Bill Gates
Bill "Swiftwater" Gates (b. 1935), American frontiersman and fortune hunter of the Klondike Gold Rush
Lionel Theron Gates (b. 1982), American football running back
William "Pop" Gates (1917-1999), American professional basketball player, member of the Harlem Globetrotters
Brent Robert Gates (b. 1970), former Major League Baseball second and third baseman
Antonio D. Gates (b. 1980), American football tight end
Major-General Byron Elihu Gates (1895-1970), American Senior Air Force Member of US Military Mission to Brazil (1945-1947) 15
... (Another 89 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Amphitrite voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1833 with 99 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/amphitrite/1833
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atwick
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HENY PORCHER 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838HenryPorcher.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 5) Byron Gates. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Gates/Byron_Elihu/USA.html