Mays

Mays is a surname of English origin. It is typically derived from the given name May, which in turn derives from the month name May or from Maia, a feminine given name from classical mythology. The spelling Mays is one of several variant forms that include Mayes, and the name has been borne by people in English-speaking countries for centuries, with migration from Britain to North America helping establish it in the United States.

In the United States and other countries, Mays is most often found among families of English or Scottish descent. The name is now widespread and does not imply any single ethnicity or occupation.

Notable people with the surname include Willie Mays (born 1931), an American Hall of Fame baseball outfielder who played for the New York/San Francisco Giants and, later, the New York Mets. The surname is carried by other individuals in various fields, though none may be as widely known as Mays in popular culture.

Variant spellings include Mayes.