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Wates Family History

Wates Surname Meaning

English (Kent and Surrey): variant of Waites.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Wates family from?

You can see how Wates families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wates family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wates families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 27 Wates families living in Ontario. This was about 42% of all the recorded Wates's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Wates families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wates surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Wates ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wates. 42% of Wates men worked as a Laborer and 11% of Wates women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wates were Miner and Maid.

View Census Data for Wates | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    42%
  • Farmer
    23%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Miner
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    11%
  • Stenographer
    8%
  • Laundress
    8%
  • Maid
    8%

What Wates family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Wates. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wates census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Wates

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Wates. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wates immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 763 military records available for the last name Wates. For the veterans among your Wates ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wates military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wates family history

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What is the average Wates lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Wates life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Wates in 1962 was 51, and 63 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wates

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wates ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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