Yates Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Yates originates from the Old English personal name 'Geat', meaning 'gate'. It has evolved through various forms, including Geat and Yate, before settling on Yates. The name is associated with traits of historical significance and rural life, and it does not have biblical relevance. Yates gained popularity as surnames became common in medieval England.
The name Yates is most popular in North Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Yates has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Yates' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2974th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3306th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4925th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8221st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10692nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11216th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6959th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Yates' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Yates"
Pronunciation
/jeɪts/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The surname Yates is derived from the Old English personal name 'Geat', which means 'gate', and it was originally used to denote someone who lived near a gate or a barrier.
Meaning
gate
Language Evolution
Geat, Yate, Yates
Historical Usage
The surname Yates became more prevalent in England during the medieval period, particularly in the 13th century, as surnames began to be adopted more widely.
Variants & Derivatives
Yate, Yateson
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Yates is seen as a traditional English surname with a strong historical presence, often associated with rural and pastoral life.
Famous People
James Yates, an American mathematician, William Yates, a British poet
📊 Yates Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Yates Name Visualizations
✨ Yates Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 16 peak births in 1921
Geographic Spread
Popular across 1 US states, with strongest presence in North Carolina
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Yates"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Yates"
"Yates" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2974th of 7545 | 124 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3306th of 6773 | 95 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4925th of 7552 | 35 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8221st of 10718 | 16 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10692nd of 16616 | 27 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 11216th of 24088 | 67 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6959th of 23106 | 139 |
Regional Popularity of "Yates" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
52.37% 1239th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
60.56% 1425th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Yates" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Yates"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Yates" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.