Surname Peate - Meaning and Origin

Peate: What does the surname Peate mean?

The surname Peate appears to be of English origin. It is derived from the Old English term 'peat', which describes a type of fuel made from compressed vegetable matter. Therefore, the name might have been occupational, originally given to someone who cut peat for fuel. The spelling variations of this surname include Peat, Peate, Pett, Pettie, and more, reflecting changes over centuries and migration. Like many surnames of the time, Peate could also potentially refer to a geographical location or a notable landscape feature, such as a peat bog. An individual with the surname Peate might have lived near such a landmark. However, without specific historical or genealogical records, the exact origin and meaning of the surname Peate can't be definitively determined.

Peate: Where does the name Peate come from?

The last name Peate is most commonly found in Britain and Ireland today. In the United Kingdom, Peate is the 2,928th most common surname, with approximately 2,700 people bearing the name in England and Wales alone.

In Scotland, Peate is the 2.016th most common surname, with 600 people carrying the name, and in Northern Ireland, it is the 423rd most common, with around 100 people bearing the name there.

In Ireland, Peate is a relatively common surname, with an estimated 7,000 people bearing the name. It is especially common in Counties Mayo and Roscommon, as well as parts of Galway and Cork.

Peate is also found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, although in much smaller numbers. In the United States, it is the 8,661st most common name, with approximately 500 people carrying the name.

Overall, the last name Peate is still relatively common today, especially in Britain and Ireland. However, it is slowly spreading to other parts of the world, as more and more people of Irish and British descent emigrate or travel abroad.

Variations of the surname Peate

The Peate surname is derived from a variety of similar sounding surnames in the English language, all of which share a common origin. Common variants of this surname include the following: Peat, Pate, Peete, Pette, Peatte, Petty, Peatie, Pety, Peety, Petti, Pett, Petty, Pet, Pettee, and Pettye.

The Peate surname has its origin in Old English and Old Norse cultures, with the original spelling of the surname being “Petta”. This Old English word for a “little man” or a “leader of a household” is believed to be the original source of the surname. Variations of the surname resulting from this old word include Pet, Petta, Petti, Pett, Pettee, Petty, Pette, Pettye, and Peatie.

Another possible root of the Peate surname is derived from the Gaelic surname “Mac Daibhead”, which was a specific type of family name of the Macdonald clan from Scotland. This family surname has undergone various changes over the years, with common spelling variations taking shape such as Mac Daid, MacDave, and McPeate.

Lastly, the surname Peate can also be derived from the Middle English word “Pete”, which refers to a “lad” or “young man”. Spelling variations that have resulted from this potential root include Pate and Peete.

Overall, there are a variety of spelling variations and surnames of the same origin for the surname Peate due to its origins in Old English, Old Norse, Gaelic, and Middle English. Together, these variations of the surname make up a unique and varied genealogy which is shared amongst many people with this powerful surname.

Famous people with the name Peate

• Harry Peate: Welsh cricketer. He was part of the Glamorgan side which reached the semi-final of the 1977 County Championship.
• Bernard Peate: Australian politician. He served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1968 and was a member of the Liberal Party.
• Ianto Peate: Welsh novelist and short story writer. He is best known for his short stories collection Ysgol Glan Gele which won the Daniel Owen Prize in 1951.
• Robert Peate: Glider Pilot and Senior Flight Engineer in the Royal Air Force. He was the Flight Commander for the United Kingdom's experimental space programme.
• John Peate: English physicist, teacher, and Fellow of the Royal Society. He is best remembered for his work on thermochemistry and calorimetry.
• Charlotte Peate: British woman of letters, poet, and prominent figure in education reform. She was active in several literary and educational societies and was the first woman to graduate from Cambridge University.
• Michael Peate: Canadian actor best known for his role as Joe Gray in the long-running television series North Of 60.
• Neville Peate: British naturalist and conservationist. He worked with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and wrote several books on the subject.
• Jonathan Peate: British film director and screenwriter. He is known for his films From The Edge Of The World and The Longest Hole.
• Frances Peate: English criminologist and public law specialist. She was the first female professor of law in England and was elected a fellow of the British Academy in 1993.

Other surnames

PeatPeatersPeatriePeatry