NameCensus.

UK surname

Maj

A surname of Polish origin meaning "May".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, St. Helens and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maj is 318 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

318

2016, ranked #14,159

Peak year

2016

318 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016, ranked #14,159.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Maj surname distribution map

The map shows where the Maj surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Maj surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maj over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 45 #33,168
1998 modern 46 #33,286
1999 modern 47 #33,320
2000 modern 43 #33,709
2001 modern 42 #33,658
2002 modern 49 #33,377
2003 modern 50 #33,362
2004 modern 70 #31,681
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 114 #26,120
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 210 #18,836
2011 modern 205 #18,965
2012 modern 264 #15,904
2013 modern 294 #14,961
2014 modern 302 #14,772
2015 modern 302 #14,687
2016 modern 318 #14,159

Geography

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Where Majs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, St. Helens, Lewisham and West Berkshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase
2 St. Helens 002 St. Helens
3 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase
4 Lewisham 035 Lewisham
5 West Berkshire 021 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maj

These lists show first names that appear often with the Maj surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maj

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Maj, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Maj surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Maj household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Maj is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Maj is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maj falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maj is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Maj, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Maj

The surname Maj has its origins in Poland, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Polish word "majać," which means "to wave" or "to beckon." The name may have initially been used to describe someone who was particularly animated or expressive with their hands.

In the earliest records, the surname appears with various spellings, such as Maj, Maje, and Majek. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the evolution of the Polish language over time. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Liber Beneficiorum, a record of land grants and benefices compiled in the late 15th century by Jan Długosz, a renowned Polish historian and chronicler.

During the Middle Ages, the Maj surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Greater Poland and Silesia. In the town of Kalisz, a prominent Maj family held significant landholdings and played a role in local governance. Notably, Stanisław Maj (c. 1520-1589) was a respected scholar and rector of the University of Kraków, making significant contributions to the intellectual life of the Renaissance era in Poland.

As the centuries progressed, the Maj surname spread across Poland and beyond. In the 17th century, Jan Maj (1615-1675) was a celebrated Polish military leader who distinguished himself in battles against the Swedes and the Ottoman Empire. His exploits earned him the sobriquet "the Lion of Lechistan," a reference to the ancient name for the lands inhabited by the Polish people.

Another notable figure was Marianna Maj (1718-1786), a Polish noblewoman and philanthropist who founded several schools and hospitals in her native Galicia. Her legacy as a patron of education and social welfare endured long after her death.

In the 19th century, the Maj surname gained further recognition with the accomplishments of Józef Maj (1818-1899), a pioneering Polish geologist and professor at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. His groundbreaking work on the geology of the Carpathian Mountains and the Tatra region significantly advanced the understanding of the region's geological history.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have borne the Maj surname throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on Polish culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Maj surname: questions and answers

How common is the Maj surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016. That gives Maj a modern rank of #14,159.

What does the Maj surname mean?

A surname of Polish origin meaning "May".

What does the Maj map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Maj bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.