Daily AncestorFate
Fate stood for Lafayette in many American records of the 1700s and 1800s.
Fate is a short form of Lafayette, and some lists also give the longer Fayette. Nickname lists made for 18th and 19th century research, such as the one from the Connecticut State Library, pair Fate with Lafayette.
Do not take Fate and Lafayette for two different people too quickly. Compare ages, places and the names of relatives to confirm that both names belong to one man.
As seen in a record1850 census; his 1843 deed is signed Lafayette
Fate Fothergill, 35, M, Farmer, Pa.
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Fate." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/fate. Last checked 2026-10-15.