NameCensus.

UK surname

Cates

Derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "cat," referring to a person who lived near a thicket or low shrub.

In the 1881 census there were 436 people recorded with the Cates surname, ranking it #7,485 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 419, ranked #11,445, down from #7,485 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Maidstone and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cates is 705 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.9%.

1881 census count

436

Ranked #7,485

Modern count

419

2016, ranked #11,445

Peak year

1891

705 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cates had 436 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,485 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016, ranked #11,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 705 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cates surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cates surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cates surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cates over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 361 #6,554
1861 historical 528 #4,969
1881 historical 436 #7,485
1891 historical 705 #5,565
1901 historical 539 #7,632
1911 historical 668 #6,301
1997 modern 483 #9,549
1998 modern 489 #9,760
1999 modern 486 #9,883
2000 modern 463 #10,200
2001 modern 457 #10,113
2002 modern 461 #10,228
2003 modern 449 #10,313
2004 modern 443 #10,442
2005 modern 430 #10,575
2006 modern 438 #10,469
2007 modern 450 #10,335
2008 modern 442 #10,573
2009 modern 439 #10,911
2010 modern 450 #10,915
2011 modern 447 #10,847
2012 modern 421 #11,245
2013 modern 429 #11,280
2014 modern 426 #11,408
2015 modern 423 #11,392
2016 modern 419 #11,445

Geography

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Where Cates' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, St John Hackney and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Maidstone, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Lewes and North Somerset. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
2 Maidstone 008 Maidstone
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Lewes 007 Lewes
5 North Somerset 010 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cates

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cates surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cates

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cates, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Cates surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cates household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Cates is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cates is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cates falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cates is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cates, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cates

The surname CATES is of English origin, derived from a place name in the county of Gloucestershire. The name is believed to have originated in the 13th century from the Old English words "cæt" meaning "cat" and "hyll" meaning "hill," referring to a hill where wildcats were found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, which mention a John de Cathull. This spelling variation suggests that the name was initially associated with a particular location before evolving into its modern form.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1446, which listed a Robert Cathull. During this period, the name was also found in other counties, such as Somerset and Wiltshire, indicating that families bearing the name had begun to spread across different regions.

Notable individuals with the surname CATES include:

1. John Cates (c. 1480-1545), an English merchant and alderman of London, who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1542-1543.

2. William Cates (c. 1550-1617), an English scholar and clergyman, who was the Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge from 1599 until his death.

3. Elizabeth Cates (1592-1654), an English Puritan settler in America, who was one of the first European women to give birth in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

4. Thomas Cates (1677-1746), a British naval officer who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1732 to 1734.

5. Mary Cates (1744-1821), a British author and poet, known for her work "The Village Curate," published in 1789.

While the CATES surname originated in a specific region of England, it has since spread globally and can be found in various countries, reflecting the migration patterns of families bearing this name throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cates families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cates surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 171 Cates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.02x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 171 4.02x
Surrey 74 3.57x
Gloucestershire 29 3.48x
Yorkshire 22 0.52x
Norfolk 16 2.45x
Sussex 16 2.23x
Essex 15 1.79x
Cambridgeshire 13 4.83x
Hampshire 11 1.26x
Glamorgan 10 1.35x
Durham 8 0.63x
Devon 7 0.79x
Staffordshire 7 0.49x
Aberdeenshire 5 1.27x
Leicestershire 5 1.06x
Cornwall 4 0.83x
Kent 4 0.28x
Lancashire 4 0.08x
Somerset 4 0.58x
Shropshire 3 0.82x
Suffolk 2 0.39x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 1.97x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 31 Cates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.36x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 31 8.36x
Mile End Old Town London 30 33.14x
Hackney London 29 12.16x
Islington London 23 5.58x
St Marylebone London 20 8.81x
Bristol St Michael 19 265.73x
Brotton 10 181.82x
Chichester St Pancras 10 467.29x
St George In East London 10 25.00x
Aberdare 9 17.70x
Norwich St Peter 9 209.79x
Kensington London 8 3.38x
Merrow 8 919.54x
Portsea 8 4.68x
Cannock 7 27.94x
St Pancras London 7 2.04x
Stoke 7 71.57x
Tottenham 7 10.33x
Wood Ditton 7 311.11x
East Clandon 6 1500.00x
St Andrewthe Less 6 19.49x
Thundersley 6 789.47x
Ashtead 5 370.37x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.71x
Bow London 5 9.24x
Bradfield 5 30.77x
Edmonton 5 14.59x
Kennethmont 5 342.47x
Leicester St Margaret 5 4.35x
Little Torrington 5 641.03x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 20.24x
Bodmin 4 50.19x
Chelsea London 4 3.12x
Colchester St Giles 4 48.19x
Stoke Newington London 4 12.07x
Stroud 4 24.65x
Thornhill 4 32.52x
Battersea 3 1.92x
Camberwell 3 1.10x
Cheam 3 135.14x
Gateshead 3 3.17x
Thetford St Mary 3 168.54x
Whitchurch 3 42.08x
Whitwood 3 50.08x
Billington 2 97.09x
Bristol St Paul In 2 9.00x
Bristol St Stephen 2 92.17x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.99x
Clevedon 2 28.09x
Exminster 2 62.89x
Fakenham 2 62.11x
Great Dunmow 2 45.77x
Hatfield Broad Oak 2 70.67x
Paddington London 2 1.28x
Portishead 2 39.29x
Send Ripley 2 74.07x
Shoreditch London 2 1.08x
Southampton St Mary 2 3.65x
St Dionis Backchurch 2 645.16x
St George Bloomsbury 2 8.20x
West Itchenor 2 833.33x
Westbury On Trym 2 7.08x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 7.23x
Clapham 1 1.88x
Colchester St Botolph 1 14.01x
Eastbourne 1 3.03x
Lewisham 1 1.29x
Liverpool 1 0.33x
Lower Bebington 1 17.92x
Neath 1 6.64x
Penge 1 3.68x
Royal Navy 1 2.31x
Rusholme 1 7.43x
Sheet 1 106.38x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.33x
Subdeanery 1 18.38x
Thetford St Cuthbert 1 42.37x
Walberton 1 112.36x
West Stafford 1 344.83x
Whitechapel London 1 2.39x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cates surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cates surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 26
George 19
John 19
Henry 15
Charles 12
James 10
Arthur 9
Frederick 8
Joseph 7
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Richard 5
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Christopher 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Frederic 2
Luck 2
Charlie 1
Colombia 1
Cristopher 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
G.G. 1
Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Jerrimiah 1
Magnes 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Rbt. 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Tommy 1
W.E.Watts 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Cates surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cates surname in 1881?

In 1881, 436 people were recorded with the Cates surname. That placed it at #7,485 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cates surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016. That gives Cates a modern rank of #11,445.

What does the Cates surname mean?

Derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "cat," referring to a person who lived near a thicket or low shrub.

What does the Cates map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cates bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.