NameCensus.

UK surname

Pate

An English occupational surname for a herdsman or a nickname for a bald person.

In the 1881 census there were 1,248 people recorded with the Pate surname, ranking it #3,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,422, ranked #4,292, down from #3,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, London parishes and Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ14, Ribble Valley and Cardenden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pate is 1,460 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.9%.

1881 census count

1,248

Ranked #3,258

Modern count

1,422

2016, ranked #4,292

Peak year

2010

1,460 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pate had 1,248 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,422 in 2016, ranked #4,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,441 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Pate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pate surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pate 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 813 #3,305
1861 historical 843 #3,279
1881 historical 1,248 #3,258
1891 historical 1,293 #3,346
1901 historical 1,441 #3,527
1911 historical 1,177 #3,974
1997 modern 1,355 #4,245
1998 modern 1,399 #4,282
1999 modern 1,420 #4,255
2000 modern 1,436 #4,210
2001 modern 1,371 #4,275
2002 modern 1,373 #4,358
2003 modern 1,347 #4,355
2004 modern 1,373 #4,298
2005 modern 1,384 #4,223
2006 modern 1,389 #4,223
2007 modern 1,385 #4,263
2008 modern 1,375 #4,317
2009 modern 1,435 #4,255
2010 modern 1,460 #4,271
2011 modern 1,445 #4,259
2012 modern 1,406 #4,291
2013 modern 1,424 #4,311
2014 modern 1,443 #4,297
2015 modern 1,439 #4,271
2016 modern 1,422 #4,292

Geography

Back to top

Where Pates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, London parishes, Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca, Whalley and Lesmahagow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ14, Ribble Valley, Cardenden and Burnley. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 London parishes London 2
3 Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca Cheshire
4 Whalley Lancashire
5 Lesmahagow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ14 East Lothian
2 Ribble Valley 001 Ribble Valley
3 Cardenden Fife
4 Burnley 002 Burnley
5 Burnley 001 Burnley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pate

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pate

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Pate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Pate household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Pate 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

Pate is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pate falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pate is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pate

The surname Pate has its origins in France, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "paste," which referred to a small loaf or cake of bread. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for a baker or someone who made or sold pastries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pate can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This indicates that individuals bearing this surname likely arrived in England from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John Pate was recorded as a citizen of London. During the same period, the name appeared in various historical documents across different regions of France, including the Île-de-France and the Normandy region.

The surname Pate has also been associated with several place names throughout history. For example, the village of Pate in Somerset, England, was once known as "Pate-ton," which likely referred to a settlement or farm owned by someone with the surname Pate.

Amongst the notable individuals who have borne the surname Pate, one can mention:

1. Walter Pate (1505-1565), an English academic and ecclesiastic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 2. Henry Pate (1568-1634), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Tregony in Cornwall. 3. Richard Pate (1516-1588), an English clergyman who became the Bishop of Worcester and later the Bishop of Oxford. 4. Jean-Baptiste Pate (1767-1842), a French painter known for his landscape and portrait works. 5. William Pate (1666-1728), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. James Piccadilly.

While the surname Pate has experienced various spelling variations over time, such as Pates, Pait, and Payte, its French origins and connections to the baking trade have remained a consistent thread throughout its long history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pate 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. Lancashire leads with 404 Pates recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.81x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 404 2.81x
Lanarkshire 254 6.49x
Cheshire 82 3.07x
Cambridgeshire 80 10.44x
Middlesex 80 0.66x
Staffordshire 43 1.05x
Yorkshire 39 0.33x
Surrey 29 0.49x
Midlothian 19 1.17x
Hertfordshire 17 2.04x
Ayrshire 16 1.77x
Lincolnshire 16 0.83x
Warwickshire 13 0.43x
Shropshire 11 1.05x
Sussex 11 0.54x
Devon 10 0.40x
Northamptonshire 10 0.88x
Kent 9 0.22x
Stirlingshire 9 2.02x
Suffolk 8 0.54x
Cumberland 7 0.67x
Denbighshire 7 1.53x
Kinross-shire 7 22.89x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.43x
Perthshire 7 1.29x
Northumberland 6 0.33x
West Lothian 6 3.29x
Bedfordshire 4 0.64x
Gloucestershire 4 0.17x
Fife 3 0.42x
Flintshire 3 0.92x
Hampshire 3 0.12x
Renfrewshire 3 0.32x
Berkshire 2 0.22x
Berwickshire 2 1.37x
Cornwall 2 0.15x
Essex 2 0.08x
Glamorgan 2 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.31x
Norfolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire leads with 120 Pates recorded in 1881 and an index of 290.07x.

Place Total Index
Lesmahagow 120 290.07x
Habergham Eaves 70 53.36x
Padiham 68 196.08x
Burnley 59 48.81x
New Monkland 43 37.18x
Barrowford Booth 31 195.21x
Blatchinworth 28 85.68x
St Andrewthe Less 28 31.99x
Blantyre 21 51.56x
Downham 21 257.99x
Chester St Oswald 18 37.23x
Wolverhampton 16 5.10x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 14 41.90x
Barley With Wheatley 13 1000.00x
Higham With West Close 13 418.01x
Haddenham 12 166.67x
Dalserf 11 28.18x
Great Little Marsden 11 16.73x
Islington London 11 0.94x
Aston 10 1.19x
Beith 10 37.02x
Chester St Mary On Hill 10 43.65x
East Kilbride 10 59.70x
Edmonton 10 10.26x
Kirkdale 10 4.14x
Liverpool 10 1.15x
Arrow 9 1698.11x
Barnoldswick 9 53.80x
Glencorse 9 144.69x
Heaton 9 148.76x
Stirling 9 16.00x
Walmersley Cum 9 39.25x
Brighton 8 1.94x
Great Grimsby 8 6.52x
Hapton 8 89.19x
Higher Bebington 8 46.81x
Old Monkland 8 5.15x
Paddington London 8 1.80x
Wolstanton 8 6.45x
Barony 7 0.71x
Borthwick 7 96.69x
Burton 7 237.29x
Cleator 7 16.15x
Glendevon 7 1147.54x
Keighley 7 5.48x
Kinross 7 66.79x
Prees 7 54.99x
Shoreditch London 7 1.34x
St Pancras London 7 0.72x
Tottenham 7 3.63x
Whisby 7 1428.57x
Accrington 6 4.60x
Baldock 6 76.53x
Biddulph 6 26.04x
Clayton Le Moors 6 21.54x
Darlaston 6 10.63x
Douglas 6 53.19x
Eltham 6 24.81x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 10.41x
Northampton St Sepulchre 6 10.37x
Skipton 6 15.91x
Stockport 6 4.37x
Wallsend 6 10.51x
Battersea 5 1.12x
Camberwell 5 0.65x
Castleton 5 3.49x
Chester Holy Trinity 5 39.94x
Dalziel 5 11.88x
Glasgow 5 0.72x
Hammersmith London 5 1.68x
Hitchin 5 13.29x
Horton In Bradford 5 2.67x
Muirkirk 5 23.52x
Poulton 5 746.27x
Trowell 5 285.71x
Wardleworth 5 6.10x
West Derby 5 1.19x
Chrtltn Cdngtn Nwtn 4 188.68x
Lavenham 4 51.88x
Staines 4 20.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Sarah 50
Elizabeth 43
Jane 21
Margaret 20
Eliza 19
Alice 18
Ann 18
Ellen 13
Emma 13
Emily 10
Hannah 10
Martha 10
Susan 7
Annie 6
Nancy 6
Agnes 5
Florence 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Clara 4
Esther 4
Grace 4
Matilda 4
Rebecca 4
Rose 4
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Harriet 3
Isabella 3
Lizzie 3
Margt. 3
Maria 3
Selina 3
Susannah 3
Betty 2
Blanche 2
Caroline 2
Eliz. 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Minnie 2
Augustas 1
E.Ellen 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 60
John 48
Thomas 45
James 36
George 19
Henry 18
Robert 17
Charles 14
Alfred 12
Joseph 12
Edward 10
Albert 7
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Richard 6
Frederick 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Daniel 4
Thos. 4
Frank 3
Peter 3
Alexr. 2
Archibald 2
Ashton 2
Benjamin 2
Elijah 2
Fergus 2
Fred 2
Isaac 2
Lewis 2
Lindley 2
Martin 2
Owen 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
W. 2
Ambrose 1
Bernard 1
Branger 1
Burnice 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Ethelbert 1
Ezekiel 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Hy.W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,248 people were recorded with the Pate surname. That placed it at #3,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,422 in 2016. That gives Pate a modern rank of #4,292.

What does the Pate surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a herdsman or a nickname for a bald person.

What does the Pate map show?

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