UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old French name Maissa or Maise.
In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Mayse surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #20,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rattlesden, Belgrave and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mayse is 116 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.4%.
1881 census count
91
Ranked #20,843
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1851
116 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mayse surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mayse surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 116 | #15,545 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 91 | #20,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 84 | #26,229 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rattlesden, Belgrave, London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting and St Gennys. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rattlesden | Suffolk |
| 2 | Belgrave | Leicestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Haverhill, Little Wratting | Suffolk |
| 5 | St Gennys | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mayse surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mayse, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mayse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mayse household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mayse is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mayse is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mayse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mayse is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "mæs," which means "meadow" or "pasture." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a meadow or who worked with cattle on a pasture.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Roger de la Mays, who was mentioned in the Gloucestershire Subsidy Rolls of 1327. This spelling variation, "de la Mays," indicates that the name was originally a locative surname, referring to a specific place or area.
The Mayse surname is also found in various historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, such as the Court Rolls of Winslow in 1381, which mention a John Mayse. Additionally, the name appears in the Hearth Tax Returns for Buckinghamshire in 1674, further solidifying its presence in England during that time period.
Notably, the surname Mayse is closely linked to the historic town of Mays in Gloucestershire, which was once known as "Mays Hampton." It is possible that the name originated from this specific location, with early bearers being residents or landowners in the area.
Some notable individuals with the surname Mayse throughout history include:
1. Sir John Mayse (c. 1450 - 1516), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII.
2. Thomas Mayse (c. 1550 - 1616), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Chichester in the late 16th century.
3. William Mayse (c. 1620 - 1694), a prominent English merchant and landowner who was involved in the wool trade and owned extensive estates in Oxfordshire.
4. Samuel Mayse (1679 - 1749), an English scholar and educator who served as the headmaster of Tonbridge School in Kent for over three decades.
5. Elizabeth Mayse (1722 - 1802), a notable English botanist and horticulturist who was known for her extensive collection of rare plant specimens and her contributions to the study of plant taxonomy.
While the surname Mayse is not among the most common in England today, its historical roots and connections to specific locations and individuals in the country's past make it a fascinating example of the rich tapestry of English surnames and their origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mayse surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Suffolk leads with 46 Mayses recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.08x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 46 | 42.08x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.12x |
| Leicestershire | 9 | 9.05x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.00x |
| Cambridgeshire | 6 | 10.56x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.91x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.39x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.54x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.37x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.35x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.66x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rattlesden in Suffolk leads with 24 Mayses recorded in 1881 and an index of 7500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Rattlesden | 24 | 7500.00x |
| Birstall | 9 | 6000.00x |
| Little Wratting | 6 | 7500.00x |
| Sheffield | 6 | 21.19x |
| Chelmondiston | 5 | 1851.85x |
| Guilden Morden | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Haverhill | 4 | 412.37x |
| Woodbridge | 4 | 285.71x |
| North Burton | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 3 | 65.08x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 7.40x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.30x |
| Leake | 2 | 303.03x |
| Lowestoft | 2 | 38.76x |
| Bassingbourn | 1 | 119.05x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.28x |
| Croydon | 1 | 4.12x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.99x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 7.06x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 6.95x |
| Rowley Regis | 1 | 11.85x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 10.94x |
| Saxmundham | 1 | 243.90x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 8.54x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.09x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 14.31x |
| Sutton | 1 | 99.01x |
| Westbury | 1 | 54.05x |
| Westoe | 1 | 6.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mayse surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mayse surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mayse households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 21 |
| Coprolite Digger | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Housemaid | 2 |
| Agricultural Laborer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Boot Maker (Apprentice) | 1 |
| Boots | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labour | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cliker (Boot) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Coprolite Digger Wife | 1 |
| Cotton Worker | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Drover | 1 |
| Fireman Marine | 1 |
| Framework Nitter | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Warehouseman | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Horseman | 1 |
| Horseman Ag | 1 |
| House Work | 1 |
| Housework | 1 |
| L Hk | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Millers Journeyman Corn | 1 |
| Pensioner Butchers Institute | 1 |
| Private 2/17th Regt | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Shoe Nailer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Mayse surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Mayse a modern rank of #36,998.
An English surname derived from the Old French name Maissa or Maise.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mayse bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.