Surname Southgate - Meaning and Origin
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Southgate: What does the surname Southgate mean?
The surname Southgate is of English origin and is considered a geographical or locational surname. Geographical surnames were usually given to a person who resided near a physical feature, such as a hill, stream, or church, or who came from a particular place. In the case of Southgate, it would have been used to refer to a person who lived near or by the southern gate of a town or walled city. The name comes from the Old English words "suth," meaning "south," and "geat," meaning "gate." Over time, "geat" evolved into the modern word "gate." Therefore, the surname Southgate ultimately means "southern gate." Southgate as a geographical name is also found in several places in England, such as in North Yorkshire, Norfolk, and London, indicating that the surname could also be linked to these areas.
Order DNA origin analysisSouthgate: Where does the name Southgate come from?
The last name Southgate is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly England. According to the website forebears.io, the Southgate surname has the highest frequency in the London Borough of Enfield, followed by Hertfordshire County and Essex County. Outside of the UK, the United States is a major source of Southgate families; its highest concentration is in the state of New York. Additionally, Southgate is fairly prevalent in Canada, particularly the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The Southgate surname is believed to be occupational in origin, referring to a gatekeeper or someone who lived near a south gate in a castle or town. Surnames were generally adopted between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries by ordinary people all over Europe, and were derived from places, occupations, and physical characteristics. As one of the more common surnames in England, it is most likely that Southgate originated prior to the eleventh century.
Due to various factors, including migration and emigration, the surname is likely to spread to different parts of the world in the next generations. For example, migration from the UK to the United States continues to increase Southgate's presence in the US. Family history researchers can look for the surname in locations where members of the family may have moved or immigrated.
Variations of the surname Southgate
The surname Southgate is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the Old English word ‘southgeat’ meaning ‘south gate.’ It is an occupational name for someone who lived by, or worked at, the south gate of a fortified city or town.
Variants of the surname include Soutgate, Southgatt, Sowthgate and Suthgate.
Spellings of the surname Southgate include Southgait, Sowthgait, Suthgatt, Sowthgate, Southergate and Southegate. The surname is also often found spelt as Southgat, Southgate, Sowthgat, Suthgat, Southergat and Southegat.
Surnames of different origins but with similar spellings to Southgate include Southgaite, Southgatee, Southgates and Southgatey.
There are a number of different surnames which have evolved from Southgate, including Southgate-Bray, Southgate-Brayley, Southgate-Ching, Southgate-Cook, Southgate-Deeley, Southgate-Gale, Southgate-Golby, Southgate-Hudson, Southgate-Hyde, Southgate-Newman, Southgate-Noel, Southgate-Pryor, Southgate-Rankin, Southgate-Scott, Southgate-Snow, Southgate-Smith, Southgate-Taylor and Southgate-Thompson.
Famous people with the name Southgate
- Gareth Southgate: the current manager of the England national football team and former professional footballer.
- Melissa Southgate: Scottish actress and presenter
- Ellen Southgate: Victorian author
- Nathaniel Southgate Shaler: American paleontologist and geologist
- Samuel Southgate: English barrister and politician
- Carolyn Southgate: Papua New Guinean writer
- Bill Southgate: retired Australian cricketer
- Mark Southgate: Canadian radio producer and announcer
- Joseph R. Southgate: American architect, surveyor and civil engineer
- Edgar Southgate: American mathematician and educator