Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(W.I.) father, an affectionate and respectful title for an old man.

1793		J.B. Moreton West India Customs and Manners 153: If me want for go in a Congo, / Me can’t go there! / Since dem tief me from my tatta, / Me can’t go there!
1816		M. Lewis 31 Mar. in Journal of a West India Proprietor (1834) 240: ‘You no my massa, you my tata!’ said one old woman.
1885		Weekly New Mexican Rev. 12 Mar. 3/6: The head chiefs and warriors of the Mescaleros and Jicarillas told your correspondent that he was the first ‘tata,’ father or agent, who protected them against the encroachment of settlers [DA].
1975		J. D’Costa Escape to Last Man Peak 10: I did live there with Taata – with me gran’father.
1980		(con. 1950s) M. Thelwell Harder They Come 89: There were a few old disputatious tatas around [...] holding themselves to be no less authoritative than Maas’ Nattie.