Explore the Family Name Southgate

The meaning of Southgate

English (East Anglia and Essex): 1. habitational name from either of two places in Norfolk called Southgate, and perhaps also from Southgate in Edmonton (Middlesex) or from any number of minor localities so named, either from Middle English south ‘south’ + gate (Old English geat) ‘gate’, or from Middle English south ‘south’ + gate (Old Norse gata) ‘street’. In the case of the Middlesex placename, the village was situated near the southern entrance to a large enclosed medieval forest. 2. variant of Suggitt, a topographic name from Middle English south ‘south’ + gate ‘street’ (Old Norse gata), used for someone who lived on a street so named.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Southgate in the United States?

Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Southgate has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000 it was ranked 47,485th most popular, but by 2010 it had slipped to 51,396th, marking an 8.24% decrease in rank. The count of individuals with this surname also dropped during this period from 420 to 405, marking a 3.57% reduction. When looking at the proportion per 100,000 people, there was also a decline from 0.16 in 2000 to 0.14 in 2010, a 12.5% decrease.

20002010Change
Rank#47,485#51,396-8.24%
Count420405-3.57%
Proportion per 100k0.160.14-12.5%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Southgate

In terms of ethnicity, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals with the Southgate surname identified as White, making up 90.24% of the total in 2000 and 86.91% in 2010 - a slight reduction of 3.69%. However, there were increases noted in the percentages of those identifying as Two or More Races, Hispanic, and Black ethnic identities. From 2000 to 2010, the percentage of those identifying as Two or More Races rose dramatically from 1.43% to 2.72%, a 90.21% increase. Similarly, those identifying as Hispanic increased by 13.6% from 5% to 5.68%, and those identifying as Black increased by 20.98% from 2.86% to 3.46%. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.

20002010Change
White90.24%86.91%-3.69%
Hispanic5%5.68%13.6%
Black2.86%3.46%20.98%
Two or More Races1.43%2.72%90.21%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%