UK surname

May

Derived from the name of the month, likely referring to someone born or baptized in May.

In the 1881 census there were 18,022 people recorded with the May surname, ranking it #210 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24,590, ranked #235, down from #210 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for May is 25,063 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

18,022

Ranked #210

Modern count

24,590

2016, ranked #235

Peak year

1998

25,063 bearers

Map years

1851 to 2016

Key insights

• May had 18,022 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #210 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 24,590 in 2016, ranked #235.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23,032 in 1901.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Map

May surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

May surname density by area, 1881 census.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

May 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
1851	historical	12,828	#186
1861	historical	4	#33,628
1881	historical	18,022	#210
1891	historical	1,001	#4,147
1901	historical	23,032	#204
1997	modern	24,272	#226
1998	modern	25,063	#227
1999	modern	25,031	#229
2000	modern	24,849	#230
2001	modern	24,178	#231
2002	modern	24,645	#233
2003	modern	23,975	#233
2004	modern	23,837	#236
2005	modern	23,276	#239
2006	modern	23,138	#241
2007	modern	23,269	#243
2008	modern	23,473	#241
2009	modern	24,018	#242
2010	modern	24,544	#239
2011	modern	24,369	#238
2012	modern	23,923	#238
2013	modern	24,551	#237
2014	modern	24,778	#237
2015	modern	24,610	#237
2016	modern	24,590	#235

Geography

Where Mays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Exeter. 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	Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff	Gloucestershire
2	London parishes	London 1
3	London parishes	London 3
4	St Pancras	London (North Districts)
5	Lambeth	London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Cornwall 021	Cornwall
2	Cornwall 030	Cornwall
3	Cornwall 019	Cornwall
4	Cornwall 013	Cornwall
5	Exeter 015	Exeter

Forenames

First names often paired with May

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

Historical female names

Elizabeth Ann Eliza Annie Alice Edith Charlotte Caroline Catherine Agnes

Historical male names

Charles Alfred Edward Arthur Albert Edwin David Daniel Benjamin Andrew

Recent female names

Susan Sarah Margaret Elizabeth Nicola Mary Patricia Julie Rebecca Karen

Recent male names

John David Peter Christopher Andrew James Michael Richard Paul Robert

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for May

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For May, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the May surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every May 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, May is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

May is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

May falls in decile 5 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for May is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - British

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of May

The surname May originated in England and has its roots in the Old English word "maeg" or "mæg," which meant "kinsman" or "blood relative." It was often used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was considered part of the family or clan.

In medieval times, surnames were adopted as a way to distinguish individuals within a community. The name May was likely derived from this Old English term, indicating a familial or kinship connection. It could have been given to someone who was closely associated with a particular family or group.

The name May appears in various historical records from the 13th century onwards. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which document the names of landowners and tenants in different counties of England. This record includes individuals with the surname May, indicating the name's early use and presence in different regions of the country.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname May was John May, who was born around 1330 in Yorkshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local council during the reign of Edward III.

Another notable figure was Sir Humphrey May, born in 1520 in Wiltshire, England. He was a respected military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I and played a crucial role in the English campaigns against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

In the 17th century, Thomas May (1595-1650) was an English poet and historian who wrote extensively about the English Civil War. His works, such as "A History of the Parliament of England," provided valuable insights into the political turmoil of that era.

The surname May was also associated with several place names in England, such as May Hill in Gloucestershire and May Green in Shropshire. These place names may have influenced the adoption or spread of the surname in those regions.

Another prominent individual with the surname May was Joseph May (1760-1812), an English agriculturist and writer. He authored several influential works on farming and agricultural practices, contributing significantly to the advancement of agriculture during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Throughout its history, the surname May has been borne by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, military leaders, writers, and intellectuals. Its enduring presence in England serves as a testament to its deep-rooted origins and the significance of kinship and family ties in the development of surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

May families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the May surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 2,835 Mays recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.52x.

County	Total	Frequency	Index
Middlesex	2,835	0.10%	1.52x
Surrey	1,863	0.13%	2.06x
Kent	1,714	0.17%	2.70x
Devon	1,362	0.22%	3.52x
Cornwall	1,247	0.38%	5.92x
Lancashire	1,012	0.03%	0.46x
Yorkshire	913	0.03%	0.50x
Hampshire	877	0.15%	2.30x
Essex	667	0.12%	1.82x
Gloucestershire	617	0.11%	1.69x
Berkshire	615	0.28%	4.41x
Somerset	425	0.09%	1.42x
Wiltshire	398	0.15%	2.42x
Sussex	360	0.07%	1.15x
Warwickshire	291	0.04%	0.62x
Aberdeenshire	254	0.09%	1.47x
Lanarkshire	245	0.03%	0.41x
Durham	244	0.03%	0.44x
Staffordshire	215	0.02%	0.34x
Glamorgan	214	0.04%	0.66x
Derbyshire	191	0.04%	0.66x
Nottinghamshire	185	0.05%	0.74x
Suffolk	181	0.05%	0.80x
Cheshire	178	0.03%	0.43x
Lincolnshire	166	0.04%	0.56x
Oxfordshire	151	0.08%	1.31x
Worcestershire	150	0.04%	0.62x
Northumberland	125	0.03%	0.45x
Northamptonshire	123	0.04%	0.70x
Norfolk	118	0.03%	0.41x
Hertfordshire	92	0.05%	0.72x
Midlothian	89	0.02%	0.36x
Monmouthshire	83	0.04%	0.62x
Fife	76	0.04%	0.69x
Buckinghamshire	75	0.04%	0.67x
Argyllshire	69	0.08%	1.33x
Angus	64	0.02%	0.37x
Dorset	62	0.03%	0.51x
Leicestershire	61	0.02%	0.30x
Cambridgeshire	48	0.03%	0.41x
Royal Navy	48	0.14%	2.17x
Channel Islands	34	0.04%	0.62x
Renfrewshire	30	0.01%	0.21x
Perthshire	29	0.02%	0.35x
Kincardineshire	26	0.07%	1.15x
Bedfordshire	25	0.02%	0.26x
Pembrokeshire	21	0.02%	0.36x
Cumberland	20	0.01%	0.12x
Huntingdonshire	16	0.03%	0.43x
Caernarfonshire	15	0.01%	0.20x
Carmarthenshire	15	0.01%	0.19x
Stirlingshire	15	0.01%	0.22x
Herefordshire	12	0.01%	0.16x
Shropshire	12	0.00%	0.07x
Shetland	11	0.04%	0.58x
Isle of Man	10	0.02%	0.29x
Dunbartonshire	9	0.01%	0.18x
West Lothian	8	0.02%	0.29x
Ayrshire	7	0.00%	0.05x
East Lothian	7	0.02%	0.28x
Westmorland	7	0.01%	0.17x
Denbighshire	6	0.01%	0.09x
Wigtownshire	5	0.01%	0.20x
Anglesey	4	0.01%	0.12x
Banffshire	3	0.01%	0.08x
Merionethshire	3	0.01%	0.09x
Brecknockshire	2	0.00%	0.05x
Inverness-shire	2	0.00%	0.04x
Kinross-shire	2	0.03%	0.43x
Montgomeryshire	2	0.00%	0.05x
Buteshire	1	0.01%	0.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire	1	0.00%	0.04x
Roxburghshire	1	0.00%	0.03x
Selkirkshire	1	0.00%	0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 293 Mays recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

Place	Total	Frequency	Index
Lambeth	293	0.12%	1.81x
Camberwell	274	0.15%	2.31x
St Pancras London	265	0.11%	1.77x
Islington London	244	0.09%	1.35x
Stoke Damerel	205	0.48%	7.57x
Battersea	174	0.16%	2.54x
Hackney London	169	0.10%	1.62x
Kensington London	164	0.10%	1.59x
Plymouth St Andrew	141	0.30%	4.73x
Portsea	137	0.12%	1.83x
St Marylebone London	137	0.09%	1.38x
Newington	130	0.12%	1.89x
Hammersmith London	123	0.17%	2.68x
West Ham	123	0.10%	1.52x
Aston	119	0.06%	0.92x
Liverpool	117	0.06%	0.87x
Paddington London	109	0.10%	1.59x
Brighton	108	0.11%	1.71x
Deptford St Paul	106	0.14%	2.17x
Rathen	104	3.67%	57.62x
Chelsea London	102	0.12%	1.82x
Folkestone	102	0.53%	8.29x
Mile End Old Town	100	0.22%	3.41x
Bermondsey	91	0.10%	1.64x
Birmingham	89	0.04%	0.57x
Bethnal Green London	86	0.07%	1.06x
Tonbridge	86	0.24%	3.76x
Barony	85	0.04%	0.56x
West Derby	82	0.08%	1.27x
Deal	81	0.95%	14.97x
Leeds	79	0.05%	0.76x
Reading St Giles	79	0.37%	5.77x
Shoreditch London	77	0.06%	0.96x
Clerkenwell London	76	0.11%	1.73x
Fulham London	76	0.18%	2.82x
Southwark St George Martyr	75	0.13%	2.00x
Brightside Bierlow	72	0.13%	1.99x
Greenwich	68	0.15%	2.30x
Peterhead	68	0.48%	7.47x
Nottingham St Mary	65	0.06%	1.00x
Croydon	64	0.08%	1.27x
Falmouth	64	0.55%	8.59x
Poplar London	64	0.12%	1.82x
Inkpen	61	8.82%	138.48x
Plymouth Charles The	61	0.23%	3.58x
Oldham	60	0.05%	0.84x
Reading St Mary	57	0.32%	5.10x
Ecclesall Bierlow	56	0.10%	1.49x
Govan	56	0.02%	0.38x
Bedminster	55	0.12%	1.96x
St George Hanover	55	0.14%	2.27x
Dartford	51	0.50%	7.86x
Maidstone	49	0.17%	2.59x
Sheffield	49	0.05%	0.84x
Toxteth Park	48	0.04%	0.64x
Chatham	47	0.17%	2.69x
Newlyn	47	3.33%	52.29x
Royal Navy	47	0.16%	2.48x
Bristol St Philip Jacob	46	0.09%	1.34x
Lewisham	46	0.09%	1.36x
Dunfermline	45	0.17%	2.66x
Perranzabuloe	45	1.58%	24.78x
Aylesford	44	1.59%	25.02x
Bradford	44	0.06%	0.99x
Hadlow	44	1.78%	27.96x
Plumstead	44	0.13%	2.08x
Aldershot	43	0.21%	3.37x
St Peters	43	0.93%	14.65x
Wolverhampton	43	0.06%	0.89x
Hornsey	42	0.11%	1.79x
Limehouse London	42	0.13%	2.06x
St Luke London	42	0.09%	1.41x
Westminster St John	42	0.12%	1.85x
Bromley London	41	0.06%	1.00x
Liskeard	41	0.74%	11.64x
Southampton St Mary	41	0.11%	1.71x
Stockton On Tees	41	0.10%	1.54x
Bow London	40	0.11%	1.69x
Tupton	40	2.91%	45.70x
Westminster St James	40	0.13%	2.09x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the May surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name	Count
Mary	1,171
Elizabeth	724
Sarah	550
Jane	331
Ellen	302
Ann	296
Eliza	296
Emma	288
Annie	281
Alice	278
Emily	265
Edith	152
Caroline	145
Louisa	145
Charlotte	134
Florence	134
Margaret	126
Martha	125
Harriet	122
Fanny	119
Maria	116
Kate	110
Ada	103
Hannah	100
Catherine	91
Susan	91
Lucy	82
Harriett	80
Rose	78
Frances	71
Amelia	67
Clara	67
Anne	63
Agnes	61
Sophia	52
Matilda	51
Rebecca	47
Bessie	46
Julia	46
Ethel	44
Minnie	43
Esther	41
Laura	40
Grace	39
Rosa	38
Eleanor	37
Maud	36
Amy	34
Susannah	34
Jessie	33

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the May surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name	Count
William	1,167
John	922
George	635
Thomas	572
James	557
Henry	440
Charles	409
Alfred	239
Edward	224
Joseph	216
Frederick	196
Richard	188
Arthur	175
Walter	173
Robert	147
Albert	135
Samuel	131
Harry	104
Ernest	97
Frank	72
Herbert	64
Wm.	63
Edwin	58
Francis	58
Daniel	50
Stephen	43
David	40
Benjamin	37
Peter	34
Thos.	34
Patrick	29
Fred	28
Percy	27
Jesse	26
Isaac	25
Michael	25
Tom	25
Fredk.	23
Edmund	22
Nicholas	22
Fredrick	21
Geo.	21
Philip	21
Sydney	21
Sidney	20
Alexander	18
Chas.	17
Horace	17
Mark	17
Lewis	14

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in May households.

Occupation	Count
Scholar	3,511
Ag Lab	207
Dressmaker	181
Laundress	135
Domestic Servant	119
Labourer	116
Carpenter	99
Coal Miner	99
Farm Labourer	92
Annuitant	88
Housekeeper	81
General Servant	74
General Labourer	68
Bricklayer	66
Charwoman	63
Tailor	59
Gardener	51
No Occupation	49
Blacksmith	48
Wife	46
Servant	44
Housemaid	42
Shoemaker	40
Tailoress	40
Cotton Weaver	39
Cook	38
Farmers Son	37
Laborer	37
Errand Boy	35
Fisherman	33
Butcher	32
General Laborer	32
General Serv	32
Carman	31
Dress Maker	30
Agricultural Labourer	29
Clerk	29
Farmers Wife	29
Grocer	29
Nurse	29
Domestic Serv	28
None	28
General Servant Domestic	27
Mariner	26
Needlewoman	25
Painter	25
Baker	24
Farm Laborer	24
Milliner	23
Stone Mason	23

FAQ

May surname: questions and answers

How common was the May surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18,022 people were recorded with the May surname. That placed it at #210 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the May surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 24,590 in 2016. That gives May a modern rank of #235.

What does the May surname mean?