Fugate
A surname of uncertain origin, probably an older English or French-based name that was later established in North America.
The #3,441 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 29,759 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Fugate is not a surname with a single secure, universally accepted derivation. It is often treated as an Anglo-American name that may have developed from a French-looking form or from an earlier English surname that was altered in spelling and pronunciation after migration. The final shape of the name suggests a surname that was regularized in the United States from an older European form, but the exact root is unclear.
History
The name is now most strongly associated with the United States, especially Appalachian and Southern family lines. Because the spelling has been fairly localized, it likely reflects an older immigrant surname that was simplified or reshaped in English-speaking communities. Genealogical records may show spelling variation, so related lines can appear under slightly different forms.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Fugate is uncommon enough that even small spelling shifts in records can make family lines look unrelated when they may actually be connected.