May Family History & Genealogy

Summary

Some of the May family moved to Ireland. May migration to the United States-Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Among early immigrants bearing the name May or a variant listed were: Cornelius May, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 - Dorothy May arrived on the "Mayflower" in 1620..........- Cornelius May, who landed in 1623..........- Hannah May, who arrived in Virginia in 1637......18th century Henry May, Virginia 1705.......Johan Peter May, New York 1709.......Martin May, Louisiana 1719.......Johann May, America 1741.......Johan Henrich May, Pennsylvania 1743.......19th century - Jacob May- 30- Pennsylvania,1805...... Emanuel May - 22 - Pennsylvania,1805....... Lionel May- 43 - New York, NY 1822.......Mr. Edward May, (b.1789),-43- Cornish farmer, United States 10th May 1832...... Morris May, Texas 1835

History

The surname May was first found in Lincolnshire where Johannes filius Maie was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1274. A few years later, Elenza May was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301 and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 includes an entry for May de Hindley. William Mai was found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1167 and a later Pipe Rolls included William le Mai in 1177. Thomas le Mey and Goscelin Mey were both listed in Suffolk in 1221. In Scotland, "William May was rendered homage at Berwick 1291. David May had a feud of the lands of Chapeltoun of Both from the Abbey of Culross, 1587. Alexander May appears in Bourhillis, Aberdeenshire 1597 and John Maii in Tillyculture, 1638, and Robert Maii in Dunglas, 1640. The family is associated with Clan Macdonald where it is a form of Omay.

Name Origin

The name May is derived from the Old French word mai, which has cognates in the other European languages that were all derived from the Latin word Mai us.The name May comes from the ancient Norman culture that was established in Britain after the Conquest of 1066. It was a name for a person born or baptized in the month of May. Robert, Ralph de Mai and Robert Mai were listed in Normandy 1180-1198.

Spellings & Pronunciations

Anglo-Norma names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations.Normans became the ruling people of England (11th) century- introduced new language-where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no had no spelling rules. These languages were more spoken than written-blended freely with one another.Medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, person's name would appear differently in nearly every document recorded. Name spelling MAY,MAI,MAYE and others.

Nationality & Ethnicity

England, Germany, Ireland, Scotland. Black: 9.4%. Hispanic: 2.01%. Two or more Races: 1.41%. White: 85.54%

Famous People named May

Sir Humphrey May(1573-1630) English politician, Member of Parliament for Bere Alston (1605-1611), Westminster (1614), Lancaster(1622-24) and 1625, Leicester (1624-25) and (1636-29) -Thomas May (c.1604-1655) English politician- House of Commons (1640-42) supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. -Baptist May (1628-1698) Royal courtier, Keeper of the Privy Purse (1665-1685)

Early Mays

These are the earliest records we have of the May family.