NameCensus.

UK surname

Tate

Derived from the Old English given name "Tata," meaning "cheerful" or "lively," or from a place name meaning "cheerful."

In the 1881 census there were 5,763 people recorded with the Tate surname, ranking it #767 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,661, ranked #763, up from #767 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tate is 8,910 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.3%.

1881 census count

5,763

Ranked #767

Modern count

8,661

2016, ranked #763

Peak year

2010

8,910 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tate had 5,763 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #767 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,661 in 2016, ranked #763.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,234 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Tate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tate surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tate 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 3,621 #786
1861 historical 2,741 #1,070
1881 historical 5,763 #767
1891 historical 5,118 #917
1901 historical 6,979 #794
1911 historical 7,234 #719
1997 modern 8,516 #742
1998 modern 8,693 #760
1999 modern 8,800 #754
2000 modern 8,706 #761
2001 modern 8,493 #762
2002 modern 8,688 #760
2003 modern 8,490 #758
2004 modern 8,455 #760
2005 modern 8,323 #761
2006 modern 8,271 #772
2007 modern 8,347 #768
2008 modern 8,410 #768
2009 modern 8,577 #773
2010 modern 8,910 #758
2011 modern 8,726 #763
2012 modern 8,630 #753
2013 modern 8,815 #751
2014 modern 8,874 #748
2015 modern 8,764 #749
2016 modern 8,661 #763

Geography

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Where Tates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Bradford, Bishop Wearmouth and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland and Sunderland. 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 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 005 Northumberland
2 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
3 Sunderland 021 Sunderland
4 Sunderland 033 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 032 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tate

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Tate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tate 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 house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tate 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

Tate 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

Tate falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Tate

The surname Tate is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "tatu," which means a cheerful or lively person. The name may also be linked to the Old French word "tate," meaning a small heap or mound, potentially referring to someone who lived near such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tate surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a person named "Tate" residing in Gloucestershire.

During the Middle Ages, the name Tate appeared in various forms, including Tatt, Tatte, and Tatte-Fere. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Tate was John Tate, a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. Records indicate that he was involved in trade with continental Europe and owned several properties in the region.

The 16th century saw the emergence of Sir Robert Tate, a influential military commander who served under King Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the English campaigns against Scotland and was recognized for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the literary world, Nahum Tate, an English poet and playwright, gained recognition in the late 17th century. Born in 1652, he is best known for his adaptation of Shakespeare's "King Lear," which remained popular on the English stage for over a century.

Another notable figure was Henry Tate, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from the 19th century. Born in 1819, he made his fortune in the sugar refining business and later donated a significant portion of his wealth to establish the Tate Gallery, one of the most renowned art museums in the world.

The Tate surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Tatenhill in Staffordshire and Tate Bank in Lancashire, further reinforcing its historic roots in the region.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and legacy associated with the surname Tate, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life across centuries of English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tate 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 1,883 Tates recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.37x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,883 3.37x
Durham 975 5.81x
Northumberland 484 5.77x
Middlesex 453 0.80x
Lancashire 439 0.66x
Surrey 244 0.89x
Staffordshire 142 0.75x
Lincolnshire 114 1.26x
Sussex 99 1.04x
Kent 95 0.49x
Northamptonshire 85 1.60x
Derbyshire 67 0.76x
Essex 67 0.60x
Hampshire 67 0.58x
Cumberland 65 1.34x
Nottinghamshire 63 0.83x
Norfolk 47 0.54x
Worcestershire 35 0.48x
Warwickshire 34 0.24x
Somerset 33 0.36x
Cheshire 30 0.24x
Lanarkshire 29 0.16x
Leicestershire 28 0.45x
Isle of Man 25 2.39x
Bedfordshire 21 0.72x
Cambridgeshire 19 0.53x
Huntingdonshire 17 1.52x
Buckinghamshire 15 0.44x
Westmorland 14 1.13x
Suffolk 13 0.19x
Glamorgan 12 0.12x
Renfrewshire 9 0.21x
Royal Navy 6 0.89x
Fife 5 0.15x
Gloucestershire 5 0.05x
Brecknockshire 4 0.35x
Dunbartonshire 4 0.26x
Flintshire 4 0.26x
Midlothian 4 0.05x
Roxburghshire 4 0.39x
Wiltshire 4 0.08x
Clackmannanshire 3 0.64x
Devon 3 0.03x
Rutland 3 0.72x
Shropshire 3 0.06x
Monmouthshire 2 0.05x
Anglesey 1 0.10x
Argyllshire 1 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Peeblesshire 1 0.38x
Shetland 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 184 Tates recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.83x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 184 5.83x
Bishopwearmouth 158 10.97x
Westoe 100 10.51x
Holy Trinity 78 5.80x
St Pancras London 61 1.34x
Gateshead 60 4.77x
Stranton 54 9.56x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 46 6.33x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 45 17.32x
Bramley In Bramley 44 20.56x
Tynemouth 43 9.56x
Stockton On Tees 42 5.19x
Byker 41 9.88x
Sedgley 41 5.80x
Westgate 41 7.89x
Darlington 40 6.17x
Castleford 39 19.15x
Toxteth Park 38 1.68x
Dewsbury 37 6.45x
Elswick 37 5.52x
Knottingley 36 36.63x
Scarborough 35 6.89x
Salford 33 1.68x
Cowpen 32 16.55x
Bradford 30 2.22x
Sculcoates 30 3.38x
West Derby 30 1.53x
Falsgrave 29 35.20x
Hackney London 29 0.92x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 29 5.78x
Newcastle On Tyne St 29 6.66x
Cradley 26 39.02x
Horton In Bradford 26 2.98x
Huddersfield 26 3.19x
Liverpool 26 0.64x
Rawmarsh 26 13.16x
Alnwick 25 17.32x
Islington London 25 0.46x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 25 36.69x
Oldham 25 1.16x
Mile End Old Town 23 2.58x
Newington 23 1.10x
Bingley 22 6.18x
Bishop Auckland 22 9.77x
Camberwell 22 0.61x
Flixborough 22 493.27x
Shoreditch London 22 0.90x
Bromley London 21 1.69x
Croydon 21 1.38x
Gainsborough 21 9.87x
Richmond 21 24.04x
Skelton In Guisbrough 21 13.88x
Tudhoe 21 14.30x
Derby St Werburgh 20 3.92x
Lambeth 20 0.41x
Middlesbrough 20 2.75x
Northampton St Sepulchre 20 7.41x
Wakefield 20 4.66x
Wortley In Bramley 20 4.52x
Bowling 19 3.43x
Everton 19 0.89x
Halifax 19 2.31x
Leicester St Margaret 19 1.25x
Stanghow 19 84.07x
Sutton Stoneferry 19 11.88x
Walton In Wakefield 19 158.47x
Clerkenwell London 18 1.35x
Headingley Cum Burley 18 5.00x
Kensington London 18 0.57x
Pickering 18 25.57x
Skircoat 18 8.16x
St George In East 18 4.69x
St Marylebone London 18 0.60x
Sunderland 18 6.07x
Doncaster 17 4.16x
Hartlepool 17 7.13x
Hornsey 17 2.38x
Nottingham St Mary 17 0.86x
Peterborough 17 4.42x
Ryton 17 28.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 401
Elizabeth 256
Sarah 213
Jane 143
Ann 124
Margaret 117
Hannah 98
Alice 82
Annie 81
Eliza 70
Emma 65
Ellen 63
Martha 59
Isabella 56
Emily 55
Harriet 37
Edith 32
Ada 31
Catherine 30
Maria 30
Anne 28
Eleanor 28
Louisa 28
Frances 27
Clara 26
Fanny 25
Florence 24
Lucy 21
Agnes 20
Caroline 20
Charlotte 20
Esther 20
Dorothy 14
Sophia 14
Susan 14
Amy 13
Matilda 13
Barbara 12
Gertrude 12
Kate 12
Ethel 11
Rose 11
Amelia 10
Susannah 10
Eliz. 9
Elizth. 9
Bertha 8
Jessie 8
Minnie 8
Rachel 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 401
William 343
George 226
Thomas 209
James 173
Joseph 137
Robert 132
Henry 90
Charles 74
Edward 53
Arthur 48
Alfred 47
Samuel 45
Walter 42
Frederick 36
Richard 33
Wm. 31
Harry 29
David 25
Albert 24
Herbert 19
Andrew 18
Ernest 18
Francis 18
Edwin 17
Tom 16
Alexander 13
Fred 13
Christopher 12
Frank 12
Matthew 12
Thos. 9
Joshua 8
Fredrick 7
Peter 7
Benjamin 6
Edmund 6
Geo. 6
Jno. 6
Philip 6
Ralph 6
Robt. 6
Abraham 5
Anthony 5
Joe 5
Jonathan 5
Lancelot 5
Percy 5
Richd. 5
Harold 4

FAQ

Tate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,763 people were recorded with the Tate surname. That placed it at #767 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,661 in 2016. That gives Tate a modern rank of #763.

What does the Tate surname mean?

Derived from the Old English given name "Tata," meaning "cheerful" or "lively," or from a place name meaning "cheerful."

What does the Tate map show?

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