Coate (surname)
Coate is a surname with several Old and Middle English origins. It may come from a word for a small cottage (like Cot) or from place names in Britain that derive from “cottage,” such as Coat in Somerset, Coate in Wiltshire, or Cote in Oxfordshire. These forms are often linked to Coates, since spellings can change over time. Coate may also come from Old English terms for animal pens, suggesting a link to livestock enclosures. Some theories connect it to the garment coat. The name can also result from Americanization of German-sounding names like Koth. In modern times, the United States has the most bearers of Coate, while Australia has the highest population proportion. Notable people with the surname include:
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:24 (CET).