Contents [hide]

Mays History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Mays History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The German surname Mays first emerged in the Rhineland, and means, simply, "May." The name was most likely originally borne by someone who was either born in the month of May or particularly fond of the spring.

Early Origins of the Mays family

The surname Mays was first found in the Rhineland, where this family was a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always influential in social affairs, the family became an integral part of that turbulent region as it forged alliances with other families within the region and the nation.

Early History of the Mays family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mays research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1326, 1355, 1774 and 1838 are included under the topic Early Mays History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mays Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: May, Mai, Mais, Maye, Mey, de May, du May, Maya and many more.

Early Notables of the Mays family

More information is included under the topic Early Mays Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mays Ranking

In the United States, the name Mays is the 761^st most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 1

Mays migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mays Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Mays, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 2
Alexander Mays, who landed in Wilmington, Del in 1798 2

Mays Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Mays, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 2
Margaret Mays, aged 30, who landed in America in 1821 2
Thomas Mays, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1831 2
Morris Mays, who arrived in Texas in 1835 2
John Mays, who arrived in Mississippi in 1851 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mays Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

George Henry Mays, aged 44, who landed in America from Bourne Lens, England, in 1904
Ellen Rebecca Mays, aged 29, who landed in America from Pendleton, England, in 1908
Edward Mays, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States, in 1915
Caroline E. Mays, aged 29, who landed in America from England, in 1916
Emily Mays, aged 60, who settled in America from Hunstanton, England, in 1916
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mays migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mays Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Bridget Mays, aged 16 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing 16th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but she died on board 3

Mays migration to Australia +

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

Mays Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Mays who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. George Mays, English convict who was convicted in Norfolk, Norfolkshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5

Mays 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:

Mays Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Oliver Mays, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Evening Star" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1858 6
Mr. John Mays, (b. 1839), aged 24, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Huntress" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st April 1863 6
Fred Mays, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Timaru" in 1870

Contemporary Notables of the name Mays (post 1700) +

Eaddy Mays, American actress and producer, best known for her role as Elaine in the 2009 film The Blind Side
Lowry Mays (1935-2022), born Lester Lowry Mays, an American businessman who was the founder and chairman of Clear Channel Communications
Benjamin Mays (b. 1895), American minister, educator, and social activist
Rex Mays (b. 1913), American race car driver
Stafford Mays (b. 1958), American former football defensive lineman
Taylor Mays (b. 1988), American football player (San Francisco 49ers)
Travis Mays (b. 1968), American former professional basketball player
Lee Mays (b. 1978), American football wide receiver
Lyle Mays (b. 1953), American jazz pianist
Melinda Mays (b. 1962), American model and actress
... (Another 42 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Mays family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Wallace R Mays, British Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 7

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 85)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html