The OATES Coat of Arms
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BLAZON OF ARMS: |
Azure, a chevron engrailed or between two plates. |
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Translation |
The chevron, or inverted V shaped band, signified Protection |
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CREST: |
A boar’s head erased argent. |
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Translation |
The boar’s head is an important charge as it was used as a medieval symbol of hospitality. |
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MOTTO: |
Persevere. |
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ORIGIN: |
England. |
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FAMILY NAME HISTORY
Oates
The English surname OATES is of patronymic origin, being one of those names that was based on the first name of the father. During the Middle Ages, when the system of surnames first evolved, it was natural that a person would be known by their father’s name. In this case, the name literally means “ the son of Oto/Odo”. Oto and its variants were popular medieval names which are no longer in vogue. The final “s” at the end of the name is simply a contraction of “son of”.
This surname has always been particularly numerous in Cornwall, where it was often rendered as Otes and Otey. In this instance, it is thought to be derived from the German personal name Audo (later Otho) which means “rich”.
Records of the surname in England date back to the thirteenth century. An example of this is Andres Otes of Norfolk who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. In 1379, a Robertus Otesson was registered as a tax payer in Yorkshire (Poll Tax Returns, Yorkshire).
Notable bearers of this surname include Titus Oates (1649 – 1705), The English informer and agitator against the Roman Catholics, Lawrence Oates (1880 – 1912), the English Antarctic explorer, who reached the South Pole with Scott, but died on the return journey.