Oates Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Oates last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Oates last name
Meaning of the Oates last name: son of Odo. Oates is an English surname from the Old French personal name Odo or Otes, brought to England by the Normans, from a Germanic word for wealth. The last name is common in Yorkshire and Cornwall. Note: it has nothing to do with oats the grain, despite the spelling.
Arms associated with the Oates name
Heraldry associated with the Oates surname sets each coat of arms in a short blazon.
Get your full Oates family history
This is only a glimpse of the Oates story. The full Oates 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 Oates coat of arms. Get the full Oates report.
Oates name FAQ
What does the Oates name mean?
Son of Odo. Common variants include Oats, Otes.
Where does the Oates surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Oates coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Oates coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).