Major
A surname that usually began as a nickname for someone “greater” or more senior, from Latin major, “larger, greater.”
The #1,714 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,718 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Major comes from Latin major, the comparative of magnus, meaning “greater,” “larger,” or “elder.” As a surname, it was likely first used as a descriptive nickname, and later in some cases it may also have been reinforced by the related title or rank word used in English. The form is closely connected with Mayor, which shares the same Latin root.
History
English surname dictionaries of the 19th century generally treat Major as a Latin-derived surname and link it with Mayor. It appears in records as an established surname by the early modern period, and in some cases may reflect a social nickname, a status term, or later adoption from the title Major. The spelling has remained fairly stable, though it can overlap historically with Mayor/Mayer in older sources.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Latin root behind Major also gave English the word “major” in the sense of “larger” or “more important.”
From the historical record
“worm, maggot + land] MAJOR (Lat.) Greater, Bigger [Lat. major, comp. of magnus] Cp. Mayor MAKEPEACE (A.-Fr.-Lat.) Peacemaker, Mediator [M.E. mak, maken, O.E. macian to make -1- M.E. paes, peas, pais, O.Fr. pais (Fr. paix), Lat. pax, pads, peace]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named Major
- John Major (b. 1943)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.