My Surname is Yates, i have been researching my family tree for about 10 or so years, i have gone back to 1766 Richard Yates Faringdon, actually i have gone back a few more generations but with solid proof of a direct ancestory. An American "cousin" emailed me the other day and mentions the Yate family in lyford and surrounding small villages/hamlets, and that seemed to awake my dim memory about Buckland Manor story of the mid 1600's. i have several questions 1. The "lord" of the manor was a man with a surname of YATE some websites it is indeed YATE but others it is YATES - does that make a difference? or is it the old spelling chestnut of surnames. 2. He had no heir but left his estate to hhis daughter abigail. Could there be other YATE/YATES family in the area ie cousins etc.? 3. if so could they be related to the faringdon YATES' 4. Many moons ago my grandfather always stated that we (along time ago) used to own most of Lechlade, could he of got a a family myth/legend wrong and it wasn't Lechlade it was indeed Buckland after all? or am i completely wrong about everything and there is no link at all. any help would be great Richard Yates