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YATES Family History

This very interesting surname is of pre 9th century Anglo-Saxon origin. It is found recorded in most English counties, but is mainly associated with the West Country. Generally the origination is topographical and describes one who lived by a prominent 'geat' (gate), and probably the gate of a walled city or town. However the name can also be job descriptive for the keeper of the 'geat', or locational for one who came from a place called Yate. As the surname 'Gate, Gayte or Gates' is relatively common, and has the same meaning, Yate, Yates, Yeats, Yeates, and Yetts are dialectal, the original 'g' in 'geat' being pronounced as a 'y'.