The name Gaters finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxons of England. It was given to one who worked as a caterer. The surname Gaters was an official name, "the cater," derived from the Old French ale catour, a title meaning a buyer of groceries for the gentleman's house. They were in charge of maintaining provisions in manors and castles. The cater's job assumed a great importance during extended sieges of his lord's castle, which could last for years.
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Early Origins of the Gaters family
The surname Gaters was first found in Berkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. William le Catur who was documented in the year 1273 in Essex and a few years later, Bernard le Acatour was listed in 1300 in Somerset. William Katerer was listed in the YorkshirePoll Tax of 1379.
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Early History of the Gaters family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gaters research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1150 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Gaters History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Gaters Spelling Variations
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Gaters has been recorded under many different variations, including Cater, Cator, Cather, Catter, Cader and others.
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Early Notables of the Gaters family
More information is included under the topic Early Gaters Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Gaters family
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Gaters or a variant listed above: George Cater who settled in Virginia in 1642; Mary Cator, who came to Virginia in 1726; Sarah Cater, who settled in New England in 1760; Andrew and Jane Cather, who arrived in New York in 1823 with their three children.
England
