May
An English surname that can come either from an old word for “kinsman” or from a nickname meaning “young maid.”
The #304 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 2,989 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname has more than one old English source. One line of explanation links it to Old English and Middle English words like m g, ma g, and may, meaning “kinsman” or “relative.” Another treats it as a nickname from Middle English may, “young woman” or “maiden,” ultimately from Old English words for “girl” or “maiden.” In short, May could have begun either as a kinship-based byname or as a descriptive nickname.
History
The name appears in medieval English records, and the two explanations have long been noted by surname scholars. Because both forms were short, common, and phonetically similar, the surname may have arisen independently in different places from different meanings. Later bearers spread widely in England and, through migration, in English-speaking countries such as the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older English texts, the word behind one possible origin of May could mean either “kinsman” or “young girl,” which is one reason the surname is hard to pin down to a single source.
From the historical record
“The Battle of Maldon (A.D. 993), 80. MAY \ (Eng.) I Man.'Warrior ; Kinsman, MAYE J Son [M.E. may, O.E. mdga, m(!e(c)g] Byrhtn6Ses mceg. — The Battle of Maldon, 1 14- 2 Young Girl, Maid [ME. mat, may, O.E. mckg{\>] That has na barn, ne mai ne knave. — Cursor Mundi, 12067.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named May
- Theresa May (b. 1956)
- Brian May (b. 1947)
- Karl May (1842–1912)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.