Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Mays

      Origin

      English

      Meaning

      Good Friend

      Variations

      Maysel, Mayson, Rumaysa
      The name Mays has its origins in English and is of patronymic nature, deriving from the given name May or the medieval form Mai, meaning good friend. It is a name that can be traced back several centuries and has seen various spelling variations throughout its history, including Mays, Mayes, and Maize, among others.

      The name Mays has been recorded in historical documents and registers since the Middle Ages, indicating its long-standing presence in English society. It was commonly used as both a given name and a name, often denoting an individual's friendly nature and amicable personality. Over time, the name Mays has also gained popularity as a name of Jewish origin. Many Jewish individuals adopted this anglicized version of their traditional name, further contributing to the name's diversity and widespread usage.

      In modern-day usage, the name Mays continues to be found in English-speaking regions across the world. It has retained its original meaning of good friend and is often utilized as a name or occasionally as a given name. While its prevalence may not be as widespread as some other names, it remains a recognizable and respected name within the English-speaking community, carrying with it a sense of goodwill and camaraderie.

      Based on our records...

      Brown

      Brown

      This is the most common surname associated with Mays.
      Alfred

      Alfred

      This is the most common name of those married to a Mays.
      John

      John

      This is the most common name for a child of a Mays.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1902 is when there were the most people born with the first name Mays.

      Explore the origins of another name.