Show ContentsMey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German surname Mey 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 Mey family

The surname Mey 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 Mey family

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

Mey 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 Mey family

Notables with the name Mey during this period were

  • Heinrich Meye (1326-1355), a mayor in the Rhineland, and Ludwig Meye (1774-1838), a banker

Mey Ranking

In France, the name Mey is the 4,721st most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 1


United States Mey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan William Mey, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "William and Sarah" 2
  • Hans Simon Mey, who arrived in America in 1730 2
  • Hendrick Mey, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
  • Anna Maria Mey, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
  • Adolf Mey, who landed in America in 1747 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anna Mey, aged 10, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1893 2
  • Frieda Mey, aged 14, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1893 2
  • Martha Mey, aged 4, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1893 2
  • Max Mey, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1893 2
  • Minna Mey, aged 8, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1893 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mey (post 1700) +

  • Uwe-Jens Mey (b. 1963), Polish-born, German tow-time gold and silver Olympic medalist speed skater
  • Reinhard Friedrich Michael Mey (b. 1942), German singer-songwriter
  • Karl Mey (b. 1879), German industrial physicist
  • Jacob Louis Mey (1926-2023), Dutch-born Danish professor of linguistics, specializing in pragmatics
  • Théo Mey (1912-1964), Luxembourg photographer


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. 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)


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