Bates Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Bates last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Bates last name
Meaning of the Bates last name: son of Bate (Bartholomew). Bates means son of Bate, a medieval short form of Bartholomew. It is common in northern England and the Midlands. A curious detail: Bartholomew was such a popular name in the Middle Ages that it gave rise to many surnames, including Bates, Batty and Bartlett.
Arms associated with the Bates name
Animals on English shields were chosen for the qualities they stood for, such as the lion for courage, a tradition the Bates name belongs to.
Get your full Bates family history
This is only a glimpse of the Bates story. The full Bates history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Bates coat of arms. Get the full Bates report.
Bates name FAQ
What does the Bates name mean?
Son of Bate (Bartholomew). Common variants include Bate, Bateson, Batts.
Where does the Bates surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Bates coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Bates coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.