Find out how popular the last name Mayes is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Mayes.

Mayes, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Mayes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mayes in America

Mayes is the 1408th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mayes surname appeared 25,256 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Mayes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mayes to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Mayes

The surname Mayes originated in England, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "maisnil," which referred to a household or family group. This term later evolved into the English word "menial," meaning a servant or domestic worker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mayes surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Maisnil," reflecting its French origins.

During the Middle Ages, the Mayes family was concentrated primarily in the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, where they held land and property. Notable historical figures bearing this surname include Sir John Mayes, a prominent knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the spelling of the name began to evolve, with variations such as "Mayse" and "Mays" appearing in various records. This period also saw the emergence of several notable Mayes individuals, including Robert Mayes, a renowned English theologian and clergyman born in 1570.

As the Mayes family spread across England, they established connections with various place names. For example, the village of Mayfield in Sussex is believed to be derived from the surname, indicating a settlement or estate owned by the Mayes family.

Other notable figures with the Mayes surname include William Mayes (1629-1701), an English Puritan minister and author, and Sir John Mayes (1597-1660), a Member of Parliament and supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Mayes surname continued to be well-represented in various professions, including law, medicine, and the clergy. One notable example is Thomas Mayes (1691-1767), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stamford Rivers in Essex.

In the 19th century, the industrialization of England saw many Mayes families migrate to urban centers in search of employment. This period also saw the emergence of several prominent Mayes figures in fields such as art and literature, including the painter John Mayes (1820-1897) and the novelist and poet Mary Mayes (1854-1932).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mayes

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Mayes.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Mayes was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Mayes has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Mayes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mayes, please contact us.

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