Let me throw out there what I have gleaned so far from the web and other sources. I am
planning to put this on webpage.
What does the surname Cate mean? 1)It could be an English Patronymic name from the
Old Norse nickname Kati, which meant 'boy'. 2)It could be short for the
Middle English word acat, which meant 'a purchase'. It could be short for
the Norman French word acater which meant 'to buy'. Both of these would
indicate one that buys provisions. 3)It is also an archaic English word that
means 'A choice or dainty food or a delicacy'. I doubt the third
definition has any bearing on the Cates surname, but the either of the first two
are definite possibilities for the origin of the name.
The are several variations of the Cates surname; Cates, Cate, Kate, and Kates.
Remember, in America, many families that started bearing one of these surnames
ended up with one of the others due to a registrar or census takers mistake.The
Cate surname (and variations) is found in the United Kingdom and in the
Netherlands. My guess is that the Cates were Normans although I found one source
(albeit a dubious source) that said the Cates Surname was Anglo-Saxon in origin.
Regardless, our Cates ancestors most likely came from England, or possibly
Scotland or Ireland. The Cates possibly may have been part of the Norman Invasion
of Britain by William the Conqueror in 1066. The Cate family was a sept of the
Keith Clan who supported Robert the Bruce in Scotland's War for
Independence. Robert the Bruce would Bestow lands and lordships on the Keith
family for this service.
The Cates probably started arriving in America (in Virginia) as early as the
1640's. They would move on from Virginia to New England and some to North
Carolina, and from there westward.
I'll have links, of course, for the Cates family pages that I got this information
from. Does anyone have anything to add?