Mayes

Mayes is a name that appears as both a surname and a geographic designation in English-speaking regions. It has historical roots in England and has spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. In addition to its use in personal names, Mayes is encountered as a place name in North America. The term thus covers multiple, related but distinct uses.

As a surname, Mayes is commonly treated as a variant of Mays or Maes. Its formation likely reflects medieval naming practices in which given names, nicknames, or descriptive terms were turned into family names. Variants arose through regional spelling differences and changes in pronunciation over time. Today, the surname Mayes is found in England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries with English-language communities.

In the United States, Mayes County is a county in Oklahoma. It is one of several geographic uses of the Mayes name in North America, reflecting local history and settlement patterns that contributed to place-naming conventions.

Notable people with the surname Mayes have appeared in politics, sports, journalism, and the arts. In scholarly and genealogical contexts, the name is also used in records that trace families and migrations within English-speaking societies.