Bates

Bates is a surname of English origin and a toponym used for various places. It is borne by many individuals in politics, science, arts, and sports, and has given rise to several institutions and terms.

Bates College is a private liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine. It was founded in 1855 as the Maine State Seminary by abolitionist Oren Cheney with financier Benjamin Bates, and renamed Bates College in 1864. The college is known for undergraduate programs and a history of social engagement.

The Bates method refers to a set of vision-improvement techniques proposed by William H. Bates in the early 20th century, emphasizing relaxation and eye exercises. It is controversial and not supported by mainstream ophthalmology.

Bates numbering is a system used to label pages in legal documents and discovery materials, allowing consistent reference in court filings.

In popular culture, Norman Bates is the fictional proprietor of the Bates Motel in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, and the character is central to the Psycho film series. The Bates Motel is also the setting of the 2013–2017 TV series Bates Motel.

In biology, Batesian mimicry describes a form of mimicry where a harmless species imitates a harmful one; the term honors naturalist Henry Walter Bates.

There are multiple places named Bates in the United States and elsewhere, typically named after individuals with the surname Bates.