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Mayo History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Mayo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

When the ancestors of the Mayo family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Norfolk. Their name, however, derives from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Mayeux, Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Mayo family

The surname Mayo was first found in the parish of Morvall, Cornwall. "The manor of Bray, passed from the Herles to the family of Mayow, of whom John Mayow an eminent physician was a distinguished member. This gentleman contributed some papers on the nature of respiration, which were published in the Philosophical Transactions. Bray is now the property, and the occasional residence of Philip Wynhall Mayow, Esq. In the church are memorials for the families of Mayow, Kendall, and Coode." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 listed Henry Meyer and Bartholomew le Meyre in Norfolk; and David le Meir in Lancashire. 3

Early History of the Mayo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mayo research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1631, 1641, 1679, 1695 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Mayo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mayo Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Mayo has been recorded under many different variations, including Mayo, Mayow, Mayhow, Mayho and others.

Early Notables of the Mayo family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Phillip Mayo of Lowe in Cornwall
Richard Mayo (Mayow) (1631?-1695), an English nonconformist minister, biographer of Edmund Staunton

Mayo Ranking

In the United States, the name Mayo is the 845^th most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Mayo is ranked the 500^th most popular surname with an estimated 94 people with that name. 5

Mayo migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Mayos were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Mayo Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Mayo, who settled in Massachusetts in 1632
John Mayo, who landed in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1632 6
Edward Mayo, who landed in Virginia in 1635 6
Samuel Mayo, who arrived in Bermuda, (Somers Islands) in 1635 aboard the ship "Truelove"
John Mayo (died 1676), who settled in New England in 1638 as a Puritan minister, first minister of Old North Church, Boston
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mayo Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Mayo, who arrived in Virginia in 1723 6
Robert and Rosamund Mayo, who settled in Maryland in 1732
Thomas Mayo, who landed in America in 1760-1763 6

Mayo Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Mayo, aged 33, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 6
James Mayo, aged 26, who arrived in America in 1822 6
Bridget Mayo, aged 21, who arrived in America in 1822 6
Francisco Mayo, aged 40, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 6
Pedro Ignacis Mayo, aged 60, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mayo migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mayo Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Mayo, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1798 7

Mayo Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Mayo settled at Burin, Newfoundland in 1805 7
Fanny Mayo, who settled in Ferryland, Newfoundland in 1848 7

Mayo migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mayo Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Mayo, (b. 1796), aged 22, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1860 8
Mr. William Mayo, (b. 1817), aged 18, English Ploughman who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
George Mayo a doctor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Emma" in 1837 10
George Mayo a doctor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 11
William Mayo, aged 44, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" 12

Mayo migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mayo Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Mayo, aged 27, a plasterer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Mary Mayo, aged 28, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Thomas Mayo, aged 22, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Elizabeth Mayo, aged 23, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Mr. Thomas Mayo, (b. 1820), aged 22, British ironmonger's labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mayo migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 14

Mayo Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

David Mayo, who settled in Barbados in 1678

Mayo Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Lucy Mayo, who settled in Jamaica in 1720

Contemporary Notables of the name Mayo (post 1700) +

Robert Mayo (1916-2003), American director of the United States' Office of Management and Budget from 1969 to 1970
William James Mayo (1861-1939), American surgeon and co-founder of the Mayo Clinic
Katherine Mayo (1868-1940), American journalist
Virginia Mayo (1920-2005), American film actress
Charles Horace Mayo (1865-1939), American physician and co-founder of the Mayo Clinic
Benjamin I. Mayo, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
E. J. Mayo, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1904 15
Daniel Mayo, American politician, Postmaster at Cincinnati, Ohio, 1797-98 15
Cuffie Mayo, American politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Granville County, 1868-69 15
Barbara Mayo, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1996, 2000, 2004 15
... (Another 35 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Mayo family +

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. Jerome A. Mayo (b. 1855), American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 16

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Eric Elton Mayo (1912-1941), Australian Lieutenant from Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 17

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Peter Mayo (d. 1912), aged 27, English Leading Fireman from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic, died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett (No. 177) and was buried at sea 18

USS Arizona

Mr. Rex Haywood Mayo, American Electrician's Mate Second Class from Florida, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 19

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY EMMA 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837LadyEmma.htm
State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 15th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Pestonjee Bomanjee 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hyderabad1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html