NameCensus.

UK surname

Mate

A surname derived from the Spanish word "mate" meaning friend or companion.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Mate surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 316, ranked #14,227, down from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield, Glossop and Poole St James. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Nottingham and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mate is 316 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.6%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

316

2016, ranked #14,227

Peak year

2016

316 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mate had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016, ranked #14,227.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 269 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mate surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mate 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 179 #16,198
1901 historical 240 #13,461
1911 historical 239 #13,321
1997 modern 148 #21,295
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 160 #20,903
2001 modern 161 #20,543
2002 modern 179 #19,598
2003 modern 174 #19,760
2004 modern 178 #19,603
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 230 #17,382
2010 modern 257 #16,476
2011 modern 245 #16,874
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 306 #14,536
2016 modern 316 #14,227

Geography

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Where Mates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield, Glossop, Poole St James, Sheffield and Penistone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Nottingham, Stafford, Sheffield and Bradford. 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 Ecclesfield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Poole St James Dorset
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Penistone Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 026 Rotherham
2 Nottingham 030 Nottingham
3 Stafford 001 Stafford
4 Sheffield 024 Sheffield
5 Bradford 002 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mate

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mate 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mate is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mate 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

Mate falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mate is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mate

The surname MATE is believed to have originated from Spain in the 16th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "mate," which means "a friend" or "a companion." This term stems from the Latin word "mātēs," which means "comrades" or "allies."

In the early days, the surname MATE was likely bestowed upon individuals who were known for their loyalty, camaraderie, and companionship. It may have been used to describe close friends, trusted allies, or even brothers-in-arms during times of war or conflict.

One of the earliest records of the surname MATE can be found in the archives of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Sobrado, located in Galicia, Spain. This document, dated 1572, mentions a certain Rodrigo MATE, who was a landowner and benefactor of the monastery.

Another notable figure bearing the surname MATE was Juan MATE, a Spanish explorer who accompanied the famous conquistador Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Juan MATE played a crucial role in interpreting and establishing communication between the Spanish and the indigenous populations.

In the 17th century, the surname MATE began to spread across other regions of Spain, as well as to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One prominent individual from this era was Diego MATE, a Spanish-born soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1672 to 1675.

As the surname MATE traveled across the Atlantic, it also found its way to other parts of the world. In the late 18th century, a man named James MATE, born in 1759, was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Another notable figure with the surname MATE was María MATE, a Spanish painter and engraver who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She was known for her intricate etchings and engravings depicting religious and historical scenes.

The surname MATE has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For instance, there is a small town called Mate in the province of Valencia, Spain, which may have derived its name from the surname or vice versa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mate 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. Yorkshire leads with 47 Mates recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 47 2.64x
Kent 24 3.92x
Dorset 20 16.98x
Staffordshire 19 3.14x
Cheshire 18 4.54x
Middlesex 18 1.00x
Surrey 9 1.03x
Essex 8 2.26x
Norfolk 4 1.45x
Hampshire 3 0.82x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Shropshire 2 1.29x
Sussex 2 0.66x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.88x
Denbighshire 1 1.47x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Midlothian 1 0.42x
Northumberland 1 0.37x
Oxfordshire 1 0.90x
Royal Navy 1 4.68x
Wiltshire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Langsett in Yorkshire leads with 19 Mates recorded in 1881 and an index of 11176.47x.

Place Total Index
Langsett 19 11176.47x
Bradfield 17 247.81x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 26.46x
Bere Regis 9 1139.24x
Sandwich St Peter 9 1406.25x
Ashford 7 117.45x
Monks Coppenhall 7 46.82x
West Ham 7 8.95x
Poole St James 6 135.44x
Bethnal Green London 5 6.41x
Shocklach Church 5 2941.18x
Westminster St John 5 22.87x
Billingford In Mitford 4 2105.26x
Birkenhead 4 12.67x
Wooldale 4 132.45x
Camberwell 3 2.62x
Hackney London 3 2.98x
Holdenhurst 3 31.09x
Longfleet 3 220.59x
Batley 2 11.83x
Brighton 2 3.28x
Chatham 2 11.87x
Croydon 2 4.12x
Islington London 2 1.15x
Meltham 2 72.20x
Oldham 2 2.91x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 5.54x
Whitby 2 33.39x
All Saints Cambridge 1 125.00x
Buckland In Dover 1 49.26x
Caundle Bishop 1 476.19x
Drayton In Hales 1 31.25x
Edmonton 1 6.92x
Elswick 1 4.69x
Halstead 1 24.21x
Hougham 1 27.47x
Ingbirchworth 1 476.19x
Melcombe Regis 1 20.49x
Mucklestone 1 172.41x
Newington 1 1.51x
Oxford St Giles 1 18.90x
Purton 1 70.92x
Queensferry 1 416.67x
Royal Navy 1 5.47x
Smeeth 1 263.16x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 40.82x
St Pancras London 1 0.69x
Stafford St Mary 1 11.66x
Stockport 1 4.90x
Sutton 1 15.80x
Tilston 1 454.55x
Walmer 1 37.59x
Warehorne 1 303.03x
Westbury On Trym 1 8.38x
Whitchurch 1 33.22x
Woolwich 1 4.42x
Wrexham Regis 1 19.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 5
Ann 4
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Ellen 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Agnes 1
Allice 1
Amy 1
Anice 1
Bertha 1
Catharine 1
Charlote 1
Charlotte 1
Christian 1
Eliz. 1
Emmeline 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Martha 1
Millie 1
Virtue 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 12
James 8
George 5
Thomas 5
Charles 4
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Henery 2
Septimus 2
Willie 2
Albert 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horris 1
Mathew 1
Robert 1
Rowland 1
Simeon 1
Tom 1
Uriah 1
Verdon 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Mate surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016. That gives Mate a modern rank of #14,227.

What does the Mate surname mean?

A surname derived from the Spanish word "mate" meaning friend or companion.

What does the Mate map show?

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