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

Mayhew, 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 Mayhew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mayhew in America

Mayhew is the 3908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mayhew surname appeared 9,085 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Mayhew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mayhew 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 Mayhew

The surname Mayhew is of English origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "mæg" meaning "kinsman" or "son," and "hēah" meaning "high" or "tall." Thus, the name likely referred to a tall or distinguished kinsman or son.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Mayhew appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Mahehu" in Cambridgeshire. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century and may have originated in the East Anglian region.

During the Middle Ages, the name was also found in various spellings such as Maheu, Mayhew, and Mayhugh, indicating regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. Some early bearers of the name were associated with places like Mayfield in Sussex and Mayhill in Herefordshire, hinting at potential connections between the surname and these locations.

One notable figure in English history with the surname Mayhew was Sir William Mayhew (c. 1500-1572), a wealthy merchant and landowner from London. He served as Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1561 and was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a free grammar school in his hometown of Rye, Sussex.

Another prominent individual was Jonathan Mayhew (1720-1766), a Congregationalist minister and influential political writer during the American Revolution. His sermons and pamphlets, such as "A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers," played a significant role in shaping public opinion against British colonial policies.

In the literary world, Henry Mayhew (1812-1887) was a renowned English social researcher and journalist. His most famous work, "London Labour and the London Poor," provided a comprehensive account of the living conditions of the working class in Victorian London, based on extensive interviews and observations.

The surname Mayhew also found its way across the Atlantic, with notable figures such as Robert Mayhew (1615-1687), one of the early settlers of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and a prominent landowner and public servant in the colony.

Lastly, Thomas Mayhew (1592-1682) was an English merchant and early colonial governor of Martha's Vineyard and the neighboring islands. He played a pivotal role in establishing settlements and negotiating with the Native American tribes in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mayhew

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

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 Mayhew 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 Mayhew 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 Mayhew was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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