NameCensus.

UK surname

Kate

A surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the name Katherine.

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Kate surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockport, Lambeth and Hart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kate is 522 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 155.3%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

1861

522 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kate had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 522 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kate surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kate 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 522 #5,026
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 217 #14,062
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 11 #36,912
1998 modern 6 #37,703
1999 modern 10 #37,072
2000 modern 6 #37,624
2001 modern 6 #37,456
2002 modern 12 #36,679
2003 modern 12 #36,715
2004 modern 23 #35,786
2005 modern 23 #35,924
2006 modern 26 #35,822
2007 modern 32 #35,530
2008 modern 41 #35,067
2009 modern 41 #35,221
2010 modern 49 #34,886
2011 modern 49 #34,868
2012 modern 69 #33,695
2013 modern 79 #33,142
2014 modern 87 #32,585
2015 modern 90 #32,245
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Kates are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Stockport, Lambeth and Hart. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockport 031 Stockport
2 Lambeth 005 Lambeth
3 Hart 010 Hart

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kate

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kate, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kate household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kate is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kate 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

Kate 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 Kate 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Kate

The surname Kate is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a variant of the surname Catt or Cat, which was derived from the Old English word "catt," meaning "cat." This surname may have been used as a nickname or a reference to someone with cat-like characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kate can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named Matilda Cate is mentioned. The name also appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, where a John Katt is listed.

In some regions of England, the surname Kate may have also been associated with geographic locations or place names. For instance, in Lincolnshire, there was a village called Catesby, which could have influenced the spelling and usage of the surname in that area.

Notable historical figures with the surname Kate include John Kate, a 15th-century English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland from 1457 to 1471. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir William Kate (1460-1505), an English soldier and member of the Privy Council during the reign of King Henry VII.

In the 16th century, the surname Kate was found in various records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524, which mentioned a Richard Kate from Worcestershire. The name also appeared in the Musters of Northamptonshire in 1539, where a Thomas Kate was recorded.

During the 17th century, the surname Kate continued to be present in various parts of England. One notable individual was Francis Kate (1635-1702), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for East Grinstead in the late 1600s.

Throughout its history, the surname Kate has had several variations in spelling, including Cate, Catt, Catte, and Katt. While the origins of the name are rooted in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kate 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 14 Kates recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.78x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 3.78x
Herefordshire 8 52.67x
Sussex 4 6.41x
Yorkshire 3 0.82x
Hampshire 2 2.63x
Dorset 1 4.11x
Gloucestershire 1 1.38x
Hertfordshire 1 3.92x
Kent 1 0.79x
Somerset 1 1.68x
Warwickshire 1 1.07x
Worcestershire 1 2.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 10 Kates recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.15x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 10 48.15x
Hereford St Owen 8 1600.00x
Brighton 3 23.81x
Alton 2 350.88x
Dewsbury 2 53.19x
Tottenham 2 33.90x
Aston 1 3.89x
Clifton 1 27.25x
Cranbrook 1 185.19x
Ditchling 1 588.24x
Dudley 1 17.01x
Luttons Ambo 1 1250.00x
Pentridge 1 3333.33x
Spitalfields London 1 35.84x
St Martin In Fields 1 45.05x
Ware 1 136.99x
Weston Super Mare 1 66.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 4
Alice 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Clara 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Lydia 1
Mary 1
Matilda 1
Sister 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 3
(Monsr) 1
Albert 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
James 1
Nehemiah 1
S. 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kate households.

FAQ

Kate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Kate surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Kate a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Kate surname mean?

A surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the name Katherine.

What does the Kate map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kate 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.