Surname Choates - Meaning and Origin

Choates: What does the surname Choates mean?

The surname Choates is of English origin and is believed to derive from a place name. In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, many families adopted the name of their manor, village, or estate as their surname. It is thought that "Choate" may come from various settlements named "Coates" found throughout England. The name could possibly mean "cottages" or "shelters" from the Old English word "cotes". The suffix 's' in Choates is likely a patronymic addition, suggesting "son of" or "descendant of" Choate. Thus, the last name Choates has the general interpretation of being indicative of a familial or ancestral link to an area bearing a similar name. Like many surnames, variations have occurred over the centuries due to a multitude of factors such as regional dialects and spellings, historical events, and immigration.

Choates: Where does the name Choates come from?

The last name Choates is of English origin. It is believed to be a variant of the name Coates, which is a habitational name from any of the numerous places named with the Old English elements "cotum" meaning "shelters, huts" (e.g., Coates, Cotter, etc.). The change from Coates to Choates could have been a regional dialect difference or a misspelling that carried through generations.

Today, the name Choates is not very common. It is found sporadically throughout the world, within different countries including the United States, Canada, England, and Australia, but in small numbers. According to the US Census Bureau, only a few thousand individuals in the United States carry this surname, making it relatively rare. It is more commonly found in English-speaking countries due to its origin. Dauntingly, the exact distribution of the Choates surname is difficult to determine due to the rarity of the name.

Variations of the surname Choates

The surname Choates primarily originates from England, specifically from a place in Sussex called Coates. This surname is a topographic one, referring to someone who lived in a cottage or a temporary rural structure, often for animals or supplies.

This surname has various spellings and variants that have evolved over time due to regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Some of these include Coates, Coate, Coats, Cotes, Cote, Coat, Coatsworth, and Choat. Some bearers of the name have also chosen to spell it as Chotes or Chote.

Apart from these, multiple surnames derived from Choates might have emerged due to the name's association with specific locations or due to differences in regional dialects and usage. Some of these potential surnames could be derived from specific places named Coates in Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, or Norfolk, among other locations.

It's common for family names to change and evolve over generations due to migration, regional dialects, or phonetic spellings, leading to many different versions of the original surname. This is true as well for the surname Choates.

Famous people with the name Choates

• Lance Choates: American tennis player, best known for winning 10 singles titles in the 1990s.
• Clifford Choates: American children’s book author and illustrator.
• JJ Choate: American country music artist.
• John Choates: American Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient.
• Neil Choates: Australian rugby league player and former coach.
• Harold Choates: Canadian NHL ice hockey player.
• Mark Choates: Canadian NBA player, who played for the Dallas Mavericks.
• Vicki Choates: American figure skater and choreographer.
• Chaucer Choates: American football wide receiver.
• Lee Choates: American professional wrestler.

Other surnames

ChoatChoate