Tates

Tates is a proper noun most often encountered as a surname in English-speaking countries and, less commonly, as a place or organization name adopted in local contexts. The name is generally treated as a variation or plural form of Tate and is believed to have emerged from patronymic or toponymic origins related to the given name Tate or to localities associated with that name.

In genealogical and onomastic sources, Tates appears in medieval and early modern records in England and, through migration, in North America, Australasia, and other regions where English families settled.

As a surname, Tates is typically less common than Tate, and individuals bearing the name are often indexed under Tate in historical documents and databases. The form can also appear as a family-name variant within broader Tate lineages, reflecting regional spelling practices or branch-specific traditions.

Outside of surname usage, the term Tates may appear in local business names, fictional works, or geographic labels that are not widely adopted as separate entries in encyclopedias.

See also: Tate, Tait, Taite.