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This ancient and interesting surname with the various spellings of May, Le May, Maye, Mayes, Mays, Mayze, Mayzes, Mey, Meys, Lemay and no doubt others as well, is of early medieval English origins, but probably from a Norman French introduction. It derives from a term of endearment or greeting (mai) given to a young person, or somebody of close friend or kinship. Similar expressions in the twentieth century are 'lad(die)' or 'man' or even 'guy' which is now applied to both males and females. The surname it is claimed can also be a hypocoristic or shortened form of "Matthew", and when with a plural ending implies a patronymic 'Son of May'. Matthew itself derives from a Middle English given name "Matthew", of biblical origin, from the Hebrew male given name "Matityahu", gift of God, recorded in the Greek New Testament in the form "Matthaias". Lastly there is no doubt that some children were christened 'May' and that like most othger baptismal names, it eventually became a surname. However as the baptismal name was, as far as it sknown, only given to female babies, surnames from this source are rare. The surname first appears in the mid 12th Century (see below)and early examples include William le Mai in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1177, Thomas le Mey and Goscelin Mey, in the Book of Ely Abbey, Suffolk in 1221, and John Meys, in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1275. Other examples are those of Stephen Mayes, in the Warwickshire Subsidy Rolls in 1332, and Ann Mays, the daughter of Thomas Mays, who was christened in 1596, at the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, in London. Probably the earliest coat of arms was that granted in Sussex in circa 1422. This has the blazon of a red field charged with a fess between eight gold billets, and the crest of a leopards head. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Mai, which was dated 1167, in the "Pipe Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.


Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Mays#ixzz0mVrTwh6L

This interesting and unusual surname is of early medieval English origin, and is a patronymic of May, which is from a pet form of the male given name Matthew, which is of biblical origin, ultimately from the Hebrew male given name "Matityahu", meaning "gift of God", recorded in the Greek New Testament in the form "Matth(a)ias". This name was taken into Latin as both "Matthias" and "Matthaeus", the former being used for the apostle and the latter for the evangelist. However, the distinction was not consistently made, and in most languages the two forms have completely fallen together again. Vernacular forms of the given name include: the Old French "Matheu", the Spanish "Mateo" and the Italian "Matteo"; these are normally derived from "Matthaeus". The patronymic was first recorded in the 1276 Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire with one John Meys, and Stephen Mayes was recorded in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire. One Robert Mayes, aged 28 yrs., was one of the earliest namebearers to settle in the New World, embarking from London on the "Assurance" bound for "Virginea" in July 1635. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Mai, which was dated 1167, in the "Pipe Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.


Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Mayes#ixzz0mVrEujYF

Thank you you wonderful people :o)

That's great information at least I can search a bit more now I know some of the other names that have been used.

1881

Ann MAYES Head W Female 68 Hail Weston, Huntingdon, England Formerly A Laundress
Tamer (Gamer) MAYES Daur U Female 24 Staploe Eaton Socon, Bedford, England Dressmaker


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Source Information:
Census Place Eaton Socon, Bedford, England
Family History Library Film 1341386
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1613 / 62
Page Number 6

1881

Mary MAYS Head U Female 60 Sawtry, Huntingdon, England Lace Maker
Harry KIRSH Other Male 7 Oundle, Northampton, England Scholar


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Source Information:
Dwelling No 6 Mutton Row
Census Place Sawtry St Andrew, Huntingdon, England
Family History Library Film 1341383
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1601 / 26
Page Number 4

1881

George MAYES Head M Male 31 Great Stukely, Huntingdon, England Shepherd
Jane MAYES Wife M Female 31 Perry, Huntingdon, England Housework
Agnes MAYES Dau U Female 8 Great Stukely, Huntingdon, England Scholar
George MAYES Son U Male 7 Great Stukely, Huntingdon, England Scholar
Mary J. MAYES Dau U Female 5 Great Stukely, Huntingdon, England Scholar
John T. MAYES Son U Male 2 Great Stukely, Huntingdon, England
David SPACKSON Lodger U Male 14 Wimpole, Cambridge, England Agl Lab


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Source Information:
Dwelling Ellistons Farm Private Cottage
Census Place Great Stukeley, Huntingdon, England
Family History Library Film 1341384
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1604 / 78
Page Number 3

1881

James MAYES Head M Male 56 Gt Staughton, Huntingdon, England Labourer (Ag)
Hannah MAYES Wife M Female 58 Gt Staughton, Huntingdon, England
Sarah MAYES Daur U Female 20 Gt Staughton, Huntingdon, England
Benjamin MAYES Son Male 18 Gt Staughton, Huntingdon, England Labourer (Ag)
Thomas MAYES Son Male 14 Gt Staughton, Huntingdon, England Labourer (Ag)
Charles MAYES Son Male 11 Gt Staughton, Huntingdon, England Labourer (Ag)
Elizabeth MAYES Granddaur Female 4 Gt Staughton, Huntingdon, England


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Source Information:
Dwelling The Green
Census Place Great Staughton, Huntingdon, England
Family History Library Film 1341386
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1612 / 84
Page Number 19

1881

George MAYS Head M Male 37 Stilton, Huntingdon, England Painter At Ironworks
Maurice MAYS Son Male 8 Birchwood, Derby, England Scholar
Francis MAYS Son Male 7 Birchwood, Derby, England Scholar
George MAYS Son Male 5 Birchwood, Derby, England Scholar
William MAYS Son Male 3 Birchwood, Derby, England
Ellen A. MAYS Daur Female 1 Birchwood, Derby, England
Lydia SIMPSON Serv U Female 24 Birchwood, Derby, England General Serv


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Source Information:
Dwelling Lea Lane
Census Place Alfreton, Derby, England
Family History Library Film 1341817
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3417 / 5
Page Number 2

1881

Francis MAYS Head M Male 51 Stilton, Huntingdon, England Laborer
Mary A. MAYS Wife M Female 42 Stilton, Huntingdon, England
Thos. MAYS Son U Male 17 Stilton, Huntingdon, England Laborer
George E. MAYS Son Male 13 Stilton, Huntingdon, England Scholar
Sarah Jane MAYS Daur Female 12 Stilton, Huntingdon, England Scholar
Francis H. MAYS Son Male 3 Stilton, Huntingdon, England
Herbert MAYS Son Male 1 m Riddings, Huntingdon, England


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Source Information:
Dwelling 9 Dog Kennels
Census Place Alfreton, Derby, England
Family History Library Film 1341817
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3417 / 44
Page Number 40

1881

John MAIZE Head M Male 58 Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, England Ag Lab
William G. MAIZE Son U Male 17 Coppingford, Huntingdon, England Ag Lab


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Source Information:
Dwelling Alconbury Hill
Census Place Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, England
Family History Library Film 1341383
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1602 / 24
Page Number 15

1881

John MAYES Head M Male 44 Stilton, Huntingdon, England Laborer
Margaret MAYES Wife M Female 45 Essex, England
William MAYES Son U Male 17 Essex, England Laborer


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Source Information:
Dwelling 8 Princes St
Census Place West Ham, Essex, England
Family History Library Film 1341410
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1716 / 112
Page Number 28

1881

James MAIZE Head M Male 30 Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, England Ag Lab
Martha MAIZE Wife M Female 27 Buckworth, Huntingdon, England
Joseph RIGNELL Boarder W Male 78 Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, England Ag Lab


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Source Information:
Dwelling Alconbury Hill
Census Place Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, England
Family History Library Film 1341383
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1602 / 24

1851 census

Name Elizabeth Mayse
Age 18
Estimated Year of Birth 1833
Relationship to Head of Household Wife's Sister
Occupation
Address
District Thrapston, Thrapston
Parish Clapton
Administrative County Northamptonshire
Birth Place Alconbury Weston
Birth County Huntingdonshire
in hpuse
john hawkins head 30
sarah wife 27
emmanuel 4
tom 2
jeremiah 1
william 4 months
elizabeth masey wifes sister 18
HO 107 / 1745

This looks like the family that Helen found in 1841, From BVRI:

MAYES, John Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 22 Dec 1822 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAYES
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAIZE, Sarah Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 22 May 1824 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAIZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAIZE, James Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 13 Nov 1825 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAIZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAIZE, William Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 11 Apr 1830 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAIZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAIZE, Mary Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 15 May 1831 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAIZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAYZE, Elizabeth Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 22 Sep 1833 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAYZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAIZE, George Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 18 Jan 1835 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAIZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAIZE, Samuel Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 18 Dec 1836 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAIZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

MAYZE, Susannah Christening
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 23 Sep 1838 Recorded in: Alconbury-cum-Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
Father: James MAYZE
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Film 1040595 Dates: 1761 - 1875

A tree on Ancestry has his wife as Eliza Venters so this could be his marriage

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

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Marriages Mar 1844 (>99%)
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ELLIS William Stamford 14 719
MAYES James Stamford 14 719 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
VENTERS Betsey Stamford 14 719
VENTERS Eliza Stamford 14 719 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

1841 England Census
about James Mayse
Name: James Mayse
Age: 42
Estimated birth year: abt 1799
Gender: Male
Where born: Huntingdonshire, England

Civil parish: Alconbury Weston
Hundred: Leightonstone
County/Island: Huntingdonshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

View image

Registration district: Huntingdon
Sub-registration district: Spaldwick
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
James Mayse 42
Elizabeth Mayse 43
Sarah Mayse 17
James Mayse 15
Mary Mayse 10
Elizabeth Mayse 7

View
Original
Record

View original image

My maternal grandfather was a Mayze and his family originated from Stilton in Huntingdonshire, I am having trouble finding them as the surname is always spelt different on the census records.

I've managed to get back to James Mayze born 1827, can anyone help me?