Maye
A surname that can be a variant of May, or in some cases a shortened form of a name beginning with Matthew.
The #7,621 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 70,878 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Maye is usually treated as a spelling variant of May. In English sources, May may come from Middle English and Old English words for a young man or kinsman, but it can also reflect the personal name May, a medieval short form of Matthew via Old French forms such as Mayheu. Because of that, Maye can have more than one historical source, depending on the family line.
History
Historical records show Maye in England from the medieval period, and the spelling often appears alongside May and related forms like Mayson. Nineteenth-century surname writers also linked some examples to a shortened form of Matthew, especially in patronymic contexts. The name remains relatively uncommon in modern English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century surname dictionary noted both a "kinsman" sense and a "young maiden" sense for May, which helps explain why Maye can look simple but have a surprisingly tangled history.
From the historical record
“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)