Gates Family History

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Gates Name Meaning

English: topographic name for someone who lived by the gates of a medieval walled town. The Middle English singular gate is from the Old English plural, gatu, of geat ‘gate’ (see Yates). Since medieval gates were normally arranged in pairs, fastened in the center, the Old English plural came to function as a singular, and a new Middle English plural ending in -s was formed. In some cases the name may refer specifically to the Sussex place Eastergate (i.e. ‘eastern gate’), known also as Gates in the 13th and 14th centuries, when surnames were being acquired. Americanized spelling of German Götz (see Goetz). Translated form of French Barrière (see Barriere).

Similar surnames: Goates, Yates, Cates, Sales, Gales, Cater, Gabel, Gatts, Game, Oates

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You can see how Gates families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gates family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gates families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 291 Gates families living in Ontario. This was about 37% of all the recorded Gates's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Gates families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gates surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Gates

Gates Family Occupations

What did your Gates ancestors do for a living?

View Census data for Gates | Data not to scale

Farmer
44%
Labourer
5%
Fisherman
4%
Son
3%

Gates Historical Records

What Gates family records will you find?

Census Record
There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gates. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gates census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search 1881 Canadian census records for Gates
Passenger List
There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Gates. 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 Gates immigration records
Draft Card
There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Gates. For the veterans among your Gates ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Gates military records

Census Record

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gates. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gates census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1881 Canadian census records for Gates

Passenger List

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Gates. 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 Gates immigration records

Draft Card

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Gates. For the veterans among your Gates ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gates military records

Gates Life Expectancy

What is the average Gates lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Gates life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Gates in 1941 was 38, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gates