Cates is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Challen Cates, American actressClifton Bledsoe Cates (1893–1970), 19th Commandant of the U.S. Marine CorpsDavid Allan Cates (born 1956), American novelistGeorge Cates (1911-2002), American musical conductor associated with Lawrence WelkGeorge Edward Cates, English recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War IGilbert Cates, American film directorKristy Cates, American stage actress and singerMichael Cates, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge UniversityPhil Cates (1947-2015), American politicianPhoebe Cates (born 1963), American film actressRichard Cates, American lawyer