NameCensus.

UK surname

Kates

Derived from a pet form of the Greek name Katherine, meaning "pure."

In the 1881 census there were 162 people recorded with the Kates surname, ranking it #14,746 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 187, ranked #20,488, down from #14,746 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, Kingston upon Hull and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kates is 280 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.4%.

1881 census count

162

Ranked #14,746

Modern count

187

2016, ranked #20,488

Peak year

1861

280 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kates had 162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,746 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016, ranked #20,488.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Kates surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kates surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kates 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 182 #11,209
1861 historical 280 #8,953
1881 historical 162 #14,746
1891 historical 216 #14,107
1901 historical 216 #14,426
1911 historical 234 #13,526
1997 modern 196 #17,859
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 210 #17,670
2001 modern 195 #18,215
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 176 #19,623
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 166 #20,379
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 172 #20,950
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 180 #20,954
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 187 #20,488

Geography

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Where Kates' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Ealing, Chiswick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, Kingston upon Hull, Tendring, Waverley and Brent. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 012 East Hampshire
2 Kingston upon Hull 006 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Tendring 007 Tendring
4 Waverley 013 Waverley
5 Brent 023 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kates

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kates

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Kates surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kates household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kates 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

Kates is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kates falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kates 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 Kates, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kates

The surname Kates has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the medieval personal name "Kate," a diminutive form of the name "Catherine." The name Catherine itself is of Greek origin, meaning "pure" or "clear."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kates can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, where it appears as "Kath." This document lists individuals who paid taxes or fees to the Crown. It is likely that the surname emerged as a means of identifying individuals by their given name or that of a parent or ancestor.

In the 13th century, the name Kates appeared in various forms, such as "Kat" and "Katte," in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273. These rolls were surveys of landholdings and population records commissioned by King Edward I.

During the 14th century, the surname Kates began to take on its more modern spelling, appearing in records like the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1317. This suggests that the name had become more established as a hereditary surname by this time.

One notable figure in history with the surname Kates was William Kates, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in various historical records from the period, including the City of London's Letter Books.

Another individual of note was John Kates, born in 1520, who served as a member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He represented the borough of Stockbridge in Hampshire and played a role in shaping the laws and policies of the time.

In the 17th century, the Kates surname can be found in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire. One example is Thomas Kates, born in 1634 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, who was a prominent landowner and farmer in the region.

The 18th century saw the birth of Robert Kates, a notable English sailor and explorer. Born in 1725 in Bristol, he participated in several voyages of discovery, including Captain James Cook's second voyage to the Pacific between 1772 and 1775.

In the 19th century, the Kates surname spread further across the British Empire as people emigrated to various colonies and territories. For instance, William Kates, born in 1812 in London, was a successful businessman who established a trading company in India during the British Raj.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kates families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kates 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 46 Kates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.91x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 46 2.91x
Somerset 19 7.47x
Surrey 19 2.47x
Cambridgeshire 18 17.98x
Yorkshire 12 0.77x
Kent 10 1.85x
Lincolnshire 9 3.56x
Hampshire 7 2.16x
Gloucestershire 5 1.61x
Glamorgan 4 1.45x
Sussex 4 1.50x
Staffordshire 3 0.56x
Berkshire 2 1.69x
Essex 1 0.32x
Norfolk 1 0.41x
Oxfordshire 1 1.02x
Royal Navy 1 5.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 22 Kates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 155.81x.

Place Total Index
Ealing 22 155.81x
Wood Ditton 15 1785.71x
Lambeth 9 6.53x
Woking 9 193.97x
Curry Mallet 6 2307.69x
Portsea 6 9.45x
Saxelby With Ingleby 6 937.50x
Islington London 5 3.26x
Sculcoates 5 20.14x
Hammersmith London 4 10.27x
Llanwonno 4 40.44x
Milton In Milton 4 174.67x
Nunney 4 727.27x
Weston In Gordano 4 4000.00x
Weston Super Mare 4 62.31x
Wombwell 4 87.53x
Little Wilbraham 3 1363.64x
Plumstead 3 16.69x
Whitechapel London 3 19.26x
Bristol St James In 2 43.86x
Chiswick 2 23.18x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.81x
Hedon 2 377.36x
New Windsor 2 50.13x
Pelhams Lands 2 2222.22x
St Martin In Fields 2 21.14x
Stafford St Mary 2 26.49x
Walberton 2 606.06x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 35.46x
Bristol St Peter 1 90.09x
Chelsea London 1 2.10x
Creech St Michael 1 158.73x
Croydon 1 2.34x
Friern Barnet 1 28.74x
Greasbrough 1 48.31x
Kensington London 1 1.14x
Lewisham 1 3.48x
Paddington London 1 1.72x
Rotherfield 1 42.55x
Royal Navy 1 6.21x
St George Bloomsbury 1 11.03x
St Mary Kalendar 1 149.25x
St Marylebone London 1 1.19x
St Michael Lincoln 1 147.06x
Thame 1 56.50x
Tottenham 1 3.97x
Walsall Borough 1 24.15x
Walthamstow 1 8.90x
Westbourne 1 75.19x
Westbury On Trym 1 9.52x
Westminster St James 1 6.16x
Wroxham 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 7
Alice 6
Ann 5
Sarah 5
Hannah 4
Sophia 4
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Amelia 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Ada 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Malinda 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Naomi 1
Sara 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 10
George 7
Charles 6
Thomas 5
Edward 4
James 4
Henry 3
Albert 2
Chas. 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Adolf 1
Andrew 1
Bert 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Frederick 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Kates surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kates surname in 1881?

In 1881, 162 people were recorded with the Kates surname. That placed it at #14,746 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kates surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016. That gives Kates a modern rank of #20,488.

What does the Kates surname mean?

Derived from a pet form of the Greek name Katherine, meaning "pure."

What does the Kates map show?

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