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Of early medieval English origins, this surname first appeared in the mid 12th Century and includes the various spellings of May, Le May, Maye, Mayes, Mays, Mayze, Mayzes, Mey, Meys, Lemay, but is 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 other baptismal names, it eventually became a surname. However as the baptismal name was, as far as it known, only given to female babies, surnames from this source are rare. Probably the earliest coat of arms was that granted in Sussex in circa 1422 and is described in heraldic terms as: Gules, a fesse between eight billets or, with a crest, out of ducal coronet or, a leopard's head proper. The motto, ‘Fortis et Fidelis’ translates as ‘Strong and Faithful’
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