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

Mayou, 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 Mayou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mayou in America

Mayou is the 77788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mayou surname appeared 246 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Mayou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mayou 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 Mayou

The surname Mayou has its origins in France, specifically in the northern region of Normandy. It emerged during the Middle Ages, likely in the 12th or 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old French word "meillour," meaning "better" or "superior." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who excelled in a particular field or possessed exceptional qualities.

One of the earliest known records of the name Mayou can be found in the Registers of the Norman Exchequer, which date back to the early 13th century. These registers were administrative documents maintained by the Duchy of Normandy, and they often included lists of landholders, tax records, and other legal documents. The presence of the name Mayou in these registers indicates that individuals bearing this surname were part of the Norman aristocracy or had acquired notable social standing.

In the 14th century, the name Mayou appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records throughout Normandy. For instance, a certain Jean Mayou was mentioned in the parish records of Saint-Lô in 1379. Another notable figure from this era was Guillaume Mayou, a merchant and landowner from Rouen, who was born around 1325 and played a significant role in the economic life of the city during the latter half of the 14th century.

As the Mayou family spread across France in the following centuries, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Maiou, Mayeou, and Maiyou. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes. One notable individual from this period was Jacques Mayou, a renowned philosopher and theologian born in Paris in 1528. He made significant contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time and was widely respected for his scholarly works.

In the 17th century, the Mayou name gained prominence in the province of Languedoc, where a branch of the family had settled. One of the most illustrious figures from this era was Pierre Mayou, a military commander who fought in the Thirty Years' War. He was born in Montpellier in 1598 and achieved the rank of Maréchal de France, one of the highest military honors in the kingdom.

Another notable figure was François Mayou, a prolific writer and poet who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born in Toulouse in 1673, he was a member of the prestigious Académie des Jeux Floraux and gained recognition for his contributions to French literature, particularly his poetic works celebrating the beauty of the Languedoc region.

Throughout the centuries, the Mayou surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, military leaders, and entrepreneurs. While the name may have its origins in Normandy, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of French culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mayou

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

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

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

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