The community was known under the same name at least since the Frank domination era, marked in mediaeval maps as "Argetes". During the Frank domination era it was a feud and during the Turkish domination era the Evkaf (Ottoman Religious Foundation) acquired substantial pieces of land in the community's region (north and north-west of it).

Ergates is one of the communities of the kingdom of Ancient Tamassos and its name is probably related to the laborers that worked in the copper mines of Tamassos that operated during those times. The mineworkers chose this place, the left bank of the river Pediaios, to create their settlement. The abundant water of the river along with the small hills, which protected the settlement from floods, made the venue ideal for habitation. Slowly-slowly, the few shacks grew in numbers and whoever wanted to come to this settlement would say "I am going to Ergates" (that is, "I am going to the laborers"). When afterwards the mines were shut down, the name Ergates stuck with the village and is preserved until today.

It is quite probable that the settlement was created during the Roman era (perhaps in the early Christian times) when the mines of Tamassos were still operating.