Surname Mayes - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Twists and Turns of the Mayes Genealogy: A Personal Encounter with iGENEA DNA Test
The iGENEA DNA test results turned out to be a unique lens that magnified my view of my Mayes family identity, linking me to diverse cultures, historical eras, and even some notable figures. It also highlighted shared health susceptibilities, thereby encouraging a proactive approach to my well-being. This report recounts how the revelations emerging from my DNA test experience facilitated a profound evolution in the understanding of the Mayes surname and the familial identity attached to it.
E. Mayes
read moreMayes: What does the surname Mayes mean?
The surname Mayes is of English origin and can be traced back to medieval times. The name itself derives from the given name Matthew or Matilda which means 'gift of God'. It was often transformed into the diminutive forms such as "Matt" or "Mat" and then the addition of '-es' denoted 'son of' or 'child of', hence, “Mat-es” or “Mayes”. Occasionally, the surname Mayes may have a Norman origin, from the area of Mayet in Le Mans region of France, indicating a geographical or locational connection. As surnames became necessary for tax and legal purposes in the Middle Ages, people often adopted their place of origin, father’s name, or profession as their surname, hence the diversity and variations of the name Mayes over time. Furthermore, the name's spelling variants include Mayse, Mays, Mayze, and more. As with many surnames, the exact meaning can depend on the family lineage and specific branch's history.
Order DNA origin analysisMayes: Where does the name Mayes come from?
The surname Mayes originates from England and is derived from the given name Matthew in its early Middle English form, "Mayhew". It appeared as a patronymic name, indicating "son of Mayhew", or "Mayhew's son."
The name took on various forms and spellings such as "May", "Maye", "Mays" and "Mayes" over time due to differences in regional dialects, pronunciation, and spelling adaptations. The earliest recorded instance of this surname is found in Suffolk in Eastern England during the 13th century.
Today, Mayes is widely spread across English-speaking countries, being especially common in the United States, England, and Australia. In the United States, according to the 2000 census, the majority of individuals with the surname Mayes are found in Texas, Tennessee, California, North Carolina, and Ohio. Despite its spread, the surname is still relatively rare, ranking 1145th in terms of frequency in the United States.
Variations of the surname Mayes
The surname "Mayes" has several variants and spellings which have the same origin or are phonetically similar. These variations may have arisen due to regional pronunciation differences, spelling errors, or translations from other languages over time. Variants and other surnames of the same origin include Mays, Maes, Mayse, Maez, Maise, Mais, Mayez, Mease, Maze, and Meas.
Furthermore, it can have related surnames such as May, Mayer, Meyers, and Mayo, which could have potentially morphed into "Mayes" over time. In some families, "Mayes" might be used interchangeably or hyphenated with these related surnames to maintain family continuity.
It is also worth noting that "Mayes" is a patronymic surname derived from the given name "May" or "Mai," which means "relative" in old German, or "Matthew" in Hebrew. So, the surname could be interpreted as "son of May" or "son of Matthew." These firstname-turned-surname occurrences are common in many cultures and can add another layer of surname variation.
Famous people with the name Mayes
- Lee Mayes: American hip hop and r&b record producer.
- Julian Mayes: British Meteorologist.
- Dan Mayes: Former professional American football player.
- Samuel Mayes: Former professional American football player.
- Willie Mays: Hall of fame American baseball player.
- Joe Mayes: British auto racing driver.
- Jayma Mays: American actress most famous for her role in "Glee".
- Kathryn Mayorga: Model who came to fame due to legal issues with Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Ruth Mayes: Australian literary critic and author.
- David Mayes: New Zealand Economist.
- James Mayes: Former professional basketball player.
- Matty Matlock (born Julian Clifton Mayes): American jazz musician.
- Derrick Mayes: Former professional American football player.
- Travis Mayes: Former professional basketball player.
- Imelda May (born Imelda Mary Clabby): Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Brian Mayes: Canadian politician.
- Percy Mayfield (born Percy Lee Mayes): Famous R&B singer.
- Leslie Stays (born Leslie Alfred Mayes): Popular English author.