| ![Show Contents]() Goates History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The Goates surname was a habitational name, from Gotham in Nottinghamshire, which was in turn derived from the Old English "gat," or "goat," and "ham," meaning "homestead." Early Origins of the Goates familyThe surname Goates was first found in Nottinghamshire at Gotham, a village south of Nottingham which dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Gatham 1 and literally meant "homestead or enclosure where goats are kept," from the Old English "gat" + "ham or hamm." 2 The village is most famous for the stories of the "Wise Men of Gotham" in which the villagers feigned imbecility when the royal messengers arrived thereby foiling King John's intent to build a hunting lodge there. One reference claims that he said "we ween there are more fools pass through Gotham than remain in it." However, one of the first listing of the surname was found years later in Essex in the year 1291 when Stephen de Gotham held estates in that shire. Gotham was a nickname for New York City first attributed by Washington Irving in 1807 in his Salmagundi, a periodical which lampooned New York culture and politics. Apparently he took the name from Gotham Nottinghamshire. Bill Finger and Bob Kane decided that the fictional "Gotham City" would be appropriate home for their comic book character Batman. Early History of the Goates familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goates research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1381, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Goates History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Goates Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Gotham, Gottam, Gottem, Gothame and others. Early Notables of the Goates familyMore information is included under the topic Early Goates Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Goates migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Goates Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- M. Goates, aged 36, who arrived in America, in 1894
Goates Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- James Goates, aged 38, who arrived in America, in 1905
- Fanny Goates, aged 23, who arrived in America from Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1909
- Harold Goates, aged 20, who arrived in America from Hull, England, in 1920
- William Goates, aged 42, who arrived in America, in 1923
| Contemporary Notables of the name Goates (post 1700) | + |
- Steven R. Goates, American Chemistry professor at Brigham Young University
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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Goates migration to the United States 
