NameCensus.

UK surname

Mays

A surname derived from the month of May or referring to someone born or baptized in that month.

In the 1881 census there were 1,726 people recorded with the Mays surname, ranking it #2,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,244, ranked #4,797, down from #2,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Henlow and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Wiltshire and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mays is 1,999 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.9%.

1881 census count

1,726

Ranked #2,500

Modern count

1,244

2016, ranked #4,797

Peak year

1891

1,999 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mays had 1,726 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,244 in 2016, ranked #4,797.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,999 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mays surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mays surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mays 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 1,490 #1,931
1861 historical 1,689 #1,691
1881 historical 1,726 #2,500
1891 historical 1,999 #2,306
1901 historical 1,705 #3,023
1911 historical 1,622 #2,993
1997 modern 1,271 #4,483
1998 modern 1,306 #4,551
1999 modern 1,310 #4,570
2000 modern 1,302 #4,570
2001 modern 1,265 #4,598
2002 modern 1,279 #4,641
2003 modern 1,236 #4,693
2004 modern 1,240 #4,671
2005 modern 1,194 #4,776
2006 modern 1,198 #4,778
2007 modern 1,186 #4,859
2008 modern 1,186 #4,883
2009 modern 1,243 #4,797
2010 modern 1,248 #4,884
2011 modern 1,233 #4,873
2012 modern 1,234 #4,802
2013 modern 1,267 #4,772
2014 modern 1,265 #4,802
2015 modern 1,255 #4,785
2016 modern 1,244 #4,797

Geography

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Where Mays' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Henlow, Lambeth and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun, Wiltshire, Central Bedfordshire, Ross and Cromarty South West and Rugby. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Henlow Bedfordshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 005 Arun
2 Wiltshire 039 Wiltshire
3 Central Bedfordshire 014 Central Bedfordshire
4 Ross and Cromarty South West Highland
5 Rugby 010 Rugby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mays

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mays

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mays, 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 Mays surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mays 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mays is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Mays 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

Mays falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mays 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.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mays

The surname Mays has its origins in England and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "maeg," meaning a relative or kinsman. This name was likely initially used as a surname to identify someone who was a relative or kinsman of an important person or family.

The Mays surname is found in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is also mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Mays was John Mays, who was born in Oxfordshire, England, in the late 13th century. Another notable individual was William Mays, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, in the early 15th century.

The Mays surname was also associated with several place names in England, such as Mayes Court in Kent and Mayes Green in Hertfordshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Mayes, Mays, and Mase.

In the United States, the Mays surname can be traced back to the early colonial period. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Thomas Mays, who was born in Virginia in the late 17th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Mays. These include:

1. Benjamin Mays (1894-1984), an American Baptist minister, educator, and civil rights leader who served as the president of Morehouse College. 2. Willie Mays (1931-2022), an American professional baseball player regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played for the New York/San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. 3. Lancelot Mays (1865-1916), an English actor and playwright known for his roles in Shakespearean plays. 4. Marilyn Mays (1858-1919), an American writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and social reform. 5. James Mays (1918-1996), an American lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General of Mississippi from 1980 to 1988.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mays families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mays 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. Essex leads with 284 Mays' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.61x.

County Total Index
Essex 284 8.61x
Middlesex 241 1.44x
Suffolk 225 11.06x
Surrey 139 1.71x
Yorkshire 67 0.40x
Bedfordshire 64 7.40x
Norfolk 64 2.49x
Lincolnshire 57 2.13x
Kent 46 0.81x
Lancashire 42 0.21x
Gloucestershire 41 1.25x
Lanarkshire 33 0.61x
Leicestershire 32 1.73x
Derbyshire 29 1.11x
Hertfordshire 29 2.52x
Huntingdonshire 26 7.84x
Nottinghamshire 25 1.11x
Durham 23 0.46x
Wiltshire 23 1.56x
Cambridgeshire 21 1.99x
Northamptonshire 20 1.27x
Sussex 20 0.71x
Worcestershire 18 0.83x
Devon 17 0.49x
Warwickshire 17 0.40x
Somerset 15 0.56x
Dorset 13 1.19x
Northumberland 12 0.48x
Staffordshire 12 0.21x
Hampshire 10 0.29x
Cheshire 8 0.22x
Shropshire 6 0.42x
Stirlingshire 6 0.97x
Monmouthshire 5 0.41x
Berkshire 4 0.32x
Herefordshire 4 0.58x
Renfrewshire 4 0.31x
Glamorgan 3 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.20x
Argyllshire 1 0.22x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Peeblesshire 1 1.27x
Royal Navy 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hundon in Suffolk leads with 37 Mays' recorded in 1881 and an index of 729.78x.

Place Total Index
Hundon 37 729.78x
Henlow 31 580.52x
St Pancras London 26 1.93x
Lambeth 25 1.72x
Hackney London 23 2.46x
Barking 20 20.73x
Camberwell 19 1.78x
Islington London 18 1.11x
Sturmere 18 841.12x
Writtle 18 133.63x
Alfreton 17 21.40x
Kensington London 16 1.72x
St Giles In Fields 16 27.78x
Kingston On Thames 14 7.16x
Newton 14 9.17x
Walton 14 192.31x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 13 311.75x
Felsham 13 687.83x
Ingatestone 13 245.75x
West Ham 13 1.79x
Wickham Skeith 13 449.83x
Bourn 12 55.63x
Croydon 12 2.66x
Dagenham 12 61.16x
Grimston 12 184.90x
Hawnes 12 224.72x
Hemel Hempstead 12 23.13x
Little Maplestead 12 800.00x
Swineshead 12 136.83x
Bermondsey 11 2.21x
Clerkenwell London 11 2.79x
Gillingham 11 9.36x
Hampstead London 11 4.23x
Romford 11 21.11x
St George Hanover 11 5.05x
Belgrave 10 23.93x
Falkenham 10 636.94x
Kedington 10 185.87x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 10 12.97x
Newington 10 1.62x
Wroughton 10 78.19x
Fulham London 9 3.72x
Halstead 9 23.40x
Southwark St Saviour 9 10.49x
St Swithin Lincoln 9 21.44x
Thundersley 9 303.03x
Westoe 9 3.20x
Yeovil 9 16.48x
Chelmsford 8 14.14x
Chelsea London 8 1.59x
Cudworth 8 134.00x
Dalziel 8 13.77x
Edenbridge 8 71.56x
Epping 8 59.75x
Gorleston 8 15.48x
Levenshulme 8 39.22x
Mountnessing 8 160.00x
Poplar London 8 2.54x
Rayleigh 8 105.40x
Church Broughton 7 208.33x
Copford 7 184.70x
Cuckfield 7 24.61x
Great Clacton 7 62.39x
Lofthouse 7 28.33x
Mile End Old Town 7 2.66x
South Lynn 7 24.15x
Trimley St Martin 7 200.57x
Wickham Market 7 83.23x
Wisbech St Peter 7 13.20x
Yaxley 7 90.21x
Bradford 6 1.50x
Cretingham 6 338.98x
Deptford St Paul 6 1.37x
Greasley 6 11.81x
Portisham 6 147.06x
Ratcliffe London 6 6.51x
Rotherhithe 6 2.91x
Southwark St John 6 11.75x
Stoke Newington London 6 4.61x
Walsoken 6 38.86x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 121
John 83
George 68
James 53
Thomas 48
Charles 40
Frederick 29
Henry 29
Joseph 28
Edward 25
Arthur 21
Alfred 20
Robert 17
Walter 15
David 14
Samuel 14
Harry 13
Frank 9
Richard 9
Stephen 9
Albert 8
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Elijah 5
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Jacob 4
Mark 4
Abraham 3
Benjamin 3
Isaac 3
Jas. 3
Tom 3
Ashley 2
Earnest 2
Ebenezer 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Josiah 2
Maurice 2
Nath. 2
Nathaniel 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Shepherd 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Mays surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mays surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,726 people were recorded with the Mays surname. That placed it at #2,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mays surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,244 in 2016. That gives Mays a modern rank of #4,797.

What does the Mays surname mean?

A surname derived from the month of May or referring to someone born or baptized in that month.

What does the Mays map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mays 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.