Coates (surname)

Coates is a surname of English origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the medieval given name "Cote" or "Coat," which were pet forms of names such as "Andrew" or "Nicholas." The addition of the suffix "-s" indicates "son of Cote" or "descendant of Cote." The name can also be topographical, denoting someone who lived on or near a slope, from the Old English word "cot" meaning cottage or shelter.

Variations of the surname include Coats, Coate, and Cotes.

Notable people with the surname Coates include:

• Anna Burdzy Coates: A competitive swimmer.
• Anne V. Coates: An Oscar-winning film editor.
• John Coates: Several people share this name, including business executives, academics, and sports figures.
• Kim Coates: A Canadian-American actor.
• Ta-Nehisi Coates: An American author, journalist, and comic book writer.