The name Maynard has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the combination of two words: "maeg" meaning "son" or "young warrior" and "hard" meaning "hardy" or "brave". The name was popular among the Anglo-Saxons in England during the Middle Ages, particularly in the regions of Wessex and Kent.

Maynard can be traced back to the 8th century, with the earliest recorded use found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an ancient manuscript detailing the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The name was likely popular among the nobility and warrior class, as it denoted strength and valor.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Maynard was Maynard the Warrior, a renowned Anglo-Saxon leader who lived in the late 9th century. He is mentioned in several medieval chronicles for his bravery in battles against Viking invaders. Another notable Maynard was Maynard of Ghent, a Flemish nobleman and crusader who fought in the Third Crusade alongside King Richard the Lionheart in the late 12th century.

In the 12th century, the name Maynard appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was widely used among the Norman nobility who settled in England after the Norman conquest.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Maynard was popular among the English aristocracy and gentry. Maynard Fitzurse, a knight and member of the infamous group of barons who assassinated Thomas Becket in 1170, is one such example. Another notable figure was Maynard de Mohun, a 13th-century English baron and landowner.

During the Renaissance period, the name Maynard continued to be used, although it became less common. One notable bearer was Maynard Grendon, an English Puritan minister and author who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.