Surname Mays - Meaning and Origin
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Peeling Back the Layers of the Mays Surname with iGENEA DNA Test: Unearthing Celtic Roots and Genetic Traits
With the help of iGENEA's DNA test, I was able to dive deep into the roots and history of my surname, Mays. The advanced genetic analysis suggested strong Celtic origins rooted in Ireland. It provided clues about historical migration patterns, genetic traits, and increased my understanding of my unique ancestry.
W. Mays
read moreMays: What does the surname Mays mean?
The surname Mays is both English and German in origin. In English, it is derived from the medieval female given name, Maude, which is a diminutive of Matilda. Matilda means "might", "strength", "battle" in Old German. So, Mays could also potentially mean "son of Maude" or "son of Matilda".
In German, it is derived from the given name Matthias or Matthew, and in some cases from the word "mais" which means corn, indicating it could be a metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of maize/corn. In this regard, the surname could have been used to refer to individuals who worked in fields or dealt with maize.
Thus, the surname Mays doesn't have a rigid meaning, and its interpretation primarily depends on the individual family line and history.
Order DNA origin analysisMays: Where does the name Mays come from?
The surname Mays is of English origin, primarily derived from the given name Matthew, in its medieval nickname form of May. Matthew means 'gift of God' and was a popular name during the Middle Ages which led to a proliferation of the surname. Interestingly, the surname could also be of topographic origin, referring to someone who lived or worked near a hawthorn tree or a maypole, both symbolized by the term 'may'. Mays became popular as a surname following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
Unfortunately, details about the surname's migration are not clearly documented but it's estimated that family members potentially emigrated from England to new lands, including America, Australia, and Canada, where the name proliferated.
Today, the surname Mays is most common in the United States, followed by England according to Forebears.io 2014 data. In the US, it is especially prevalent in states such as Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. Aside from that, the Mays surname is also found in lower densities in other English-speaking countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Mays
The surname Mays may have the following variations and spellings: Mase, Mayes, Mayse, Mease, Myse, Meys, Meyse, May's, Maes, and Mais.
The surname is believed to derive from Matthew via the surname Mathies, which evolved into Mayes, Mays or May. Therefore, variations of Matthew such as Mathews, Mathis, Mathisen could be considered as surnames of the same origin.
In some instances, the name could have been a locational name derived from the Isle of May off the coast of Scotland, thus variants could include May and Isles.
The surname Mays is found across the globe due to migration and diaspora, with various spelling adjustments made to accommodate different languages and cultures.
Finally, the surname Mace, originally spelled Macey, is also considered to be of the same origin and could be an English variant as well.
Please note that these are possible surname equivalents and variants, and direct tracing of a family tree would be needed to ensure actual genealogical connections.
Famous people with the name Mays
- Willie Mays: An American former professional baseball center fielder.
- Billy Mays: An American television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting OxiClean.
- Debi Mays: An American actress.
- Marin Mazzie: A famous American actress.
- Jayma Mays: An American actress and singer.
- George Mays: An American artist.
- Tony Mays: A renowned English footballer.
- David Mays: An American producer and the founder of The Source, a magazine about hip hop music.
- Bishop Paul S. Morton: An influential figure in the gospel music genre.
- Brian Mays: A well-known Australian rugby league footballer.
- Marv Albert: A famous American sportscaster.
- Nigel Marven: A noticeable British wildlife TV presenter, television producer, author and birdwatcher. These are all popular figures with the last name Mays in diverse fields. It's interesting to note that the name encompasses individuals from multiple sectors such as sports, music, television, and the arts.