Oh, of course they aren't the same all across the world... but... those of us in those areas are 'doing our part' to share how we perceive those sorts of names... especially since Duane is American.. IE, he had American parents, who would have looked at the names just like we are.
As for Bates... Bates doesn't have a 'poor, redneck' association... Bates was the last name of a character in a movie/book: Norman Bates from the 1960's film "Psycho" was an insane serial killer, who operated a hotel ("Bates Motel")... It's a perfectly legitimate name, just for some, they first remember the moving character. It'd be kind of like naming a kid Hannibal... It's a good name-- just... will remind people of Silence of the Lambs and such.
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As for Bates... Bates doesn't have a 'poor, redneck' association... Bates was the last name of a character in a movie/book: Norman Bates from the 1960's film "Psycho" was an insane serial killer, who operated a hotel ("Bates Motel")... It's a perfectly legitimate name, just for some, they first remember the moving character. It'd be kind of like naming a kid Hannibal... It's a good name-- just... will remind people of Silence of the Lambs and such.