Show ContentsTongate Surname History

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  • England
Extended Surname History Download (PDF) - Letter Size

Extended Surname History Download (PDF) - Letter Size

Etymology of Tongate

What does the name Tongate mean?

The distinguished surname Tongate is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It is derived from "Tungate," the name of a small settlement near North Walsham, Norfolk, and is made up of the Old English elements "tun," meaning "village, settlement," and "gate," meaning "gate."

Early Origins of the Tongate family

The surname Tongate was first found in Norfolk, where the Tongate family held a family seat from early times. During the Middle Ages, it was common to refer to a new resident of a village by the name of his hometown; thus, it is likely that the progenitor of the name Tongate was a native of the settlement of Tungate who had moved to another city.

Early History of the Tongate family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tongate research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1791 is included under the topic Early Tongate History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tongate Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tungate, Tongate, Tungatt, Tunget, Tonget and others.

Early Notables of the Tongate family

More information is included under the topic Early Tongate Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tongate family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Tunget, who emigrated from England to Virginia in 1657; Jeremiah Tungate, who was living in Stafford County, Virginia in 1748; and James Tungate, who was recorded in the 1871 census of Ontario..

Contemporary Notables of the name Tongate (post 1700)+

  • Bernice Duncan Smith Tongate (1897-1990), American Yeomanette who served in the United States Navy during World War I, well known for her depiction in the wartime Navy poster with her words "Gee, I wish I were a man"

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