Variations of the name include: Cate, Cates, Cato, Caton, Catt, Kate, and further permutations of the various prefixes and suffixes. The name has been well known in Norfolk for at least six centuries. However, the earliest records go back much further, beginning with William and Roger Catus of Normandy in 1180, Roger Catus in 1198, Radulphus Cattus of Lincoln in 1189, and Alexander le Kat of England in 1272. The family long flourished in Norfolk which was heavily populated with settlers from across the English Channel in Normandy. Therefore, at this time it appears that the name is Norman. [570]
The earliest record in America is of John Cates who died in Virginia in 1623 or earlier. But following that there is a tradition that four Cate brothers came from England to America in the 1630's. The brothers were William, John, Joseph and James. Apparently all four went first to Virginia and then John and James departed for New England. In 1635 Joseph Cates, aged 17, is recorded as a passenger on the Assurance de Lo (de L'eau) for Virginia. Also, John Kates, age 23, is recorded as a passenger on the Safety for Virginia in August, 1635. Assurance and Safety may be a translation of the same word. These, perhaps, were brothers. Some of their descendants emigrated to Orange Co., N.C., and thence spread through Kentucky and Tennessee. Other descendents may have moved to New England.
From an historical address delivered at Windham, Connecticut, "Lieutenant John Cates, a pious Puritan who served in the wars of England, holding his commission under Cromwell. When Charles II came to the throne, he fled to this country for safety. He landed first in Virginia, where he procured a negro servant to attend him. But when advertisements and pursuers were spread through this country to apprehend the adherents to the Protector, he left Virginia, came to New York, and thence to Norwick. Still feeling that he would be securer in a more retired place, he came to this plantation, dug the first cellar, and with his servant raised in Windham the first English habitation in the spring of 1689. After leaving legacies to church, town and school of Windham he willed the rest of his property to Mary Howard, 'unless my child or any of my children now in England should come to New England.'"
And from his tombstone in a Windham churchyard, "In memory of Mr. John Cates. He was a gentleman born in England and the first settler in the town of Windham. By his last will and testament he gave a generous legacy to ye First Church of Christ in Windham, in plate, and a generous legacy in land for ye support of ye poor, and another legacy for ye support of ye school in said town forever. He died in Windham, July ye 16th, A.D., 1697"
