May is a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

of Germanic (Saxon) and, independently, of

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

origin. There are many variants used in English-speaking countries, as well as several variants used in Germany. The Scottish May is a sept of

Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...

. The surname "May" remains a common surname in the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, as well as among Russians of German origin; possibly also persisting in areas of the Netherlands and France. People with the surname May include: *

Abby May Abigail "Abba" Alcott (née May; October 8, 1800 – November 25, 1877) was an American activist for several causes and one of the first paid social workers in the state of Massachusetts. She was the wife of transcendentalist Amos Bronson Alc ...

(1800–1877), American social activist *

Alan Nunn May Alan Nunn May (sometimes Allan) (2 May 1911 – 12 January 2003) was a British physicist and a confessed and convicted Soviet spy who supplied secrets of British and American atomic research to the Soviet Union during World War II. Early life ...

(1911–2003), English spy for the Soviet Union * Alfred May (engineer) (1851–1920), engineer and inventor in South Australia *

Andrew J. May Andrew Jackson May (June 24, 1875 – September 6, 1959) was a Kentucky attorney, an influential New Deal-era politician, and chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee during World War II, infamous for his rash disclosure of classified nav ...

(1875–1959), American politician *

Arthur Johan May Arthur Johan May (2 July 1903 – 8 February 1979) was a Surinamese and Dutch civil servant, and served as acting Prime Minister of Suriname in 1969. Biography May was born on 2 July 1903 in Paramaribo. He studied to become a civil servant. From ...

(1903–1979), acting Prime Minister of Suriname * Bailey May (Born 2002), Filipino singer, dancer and actor. Member of the new global pop group formed by Simon Fuller, Now United * Barry May (born 1944), South African-born former English cricketer *

Billy May Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for ''The Green Hornet'' (1966), ''The Mod Squad'' (1968), ''Batman'' (with '' Batgirl'' them ...

(1916–2004), American arranger * Bob May, see Robert May * Bob May (golfer) (born 1968), American golfer *

Brad May Bradley Scott May (born November 29, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). In the 2006–07 season he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. He current ...

(born 1971), Canadian ice hockey player * Brian May (born 1947), English rock guitarist and astrophysicist *

Brian May (Australian composer) Brian May (28 July 1934 – 25 April 1997) was an Australian film composer and conductor who was a prominent figure during the Australian New Wave. He is perhaps best known for his scores to ''Mad Max'' and ''Mad Max 2''. Life and career ...

(1934–1997), Australian bandleader *

Buckshot May William Herbert "Buckshot" May (December 13, 1899 – March 15, 1984) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1924. The 24-year-old right-hander stood 6'2" and weighed 169 lbs. On May ...

(1899–1984), American baseball player *

Butler May Butler "String Beans" May (August 18, 1894 – November 17, 1917) was an American vaudeville performer, singer, pianist and comedian. He has been described as "the greatest attraction in African-American vaudeville, the first recognizable bl ...

(1894–1917), known as "Stringbeans", American blues and vaudeville performer * Carlos May (born 1948), American baseball player * Charles S. May (1830–1891), American politician from Michigan *

Christine May Christine May (born 23 March 1948, in Dublin) is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician. She was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Central Fife constituency from 2003 to 2007. Raised and educated in Dublin, Christine worked ...

(born 1948), Irish politician * Christof May (1973–2022), German Catholic priest *

Clifford May Clifford D. May (born 1951) is an American journalist, editor, political activist, and podcast host. He is the founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a think tank created shortly after the 9/11 attacks, where he host ...

(born 1951), American activist *

Corinna May Corinna May (born 6 October 1970 in Bremen, Germany as Corinna Meyer) is a blind singer from Germany. She is best known for competing in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "I Can't Live Without Music". Career From an early age she ...

(born 1970), German singer * Corrinne May (Corrinne Foo May Ying, born 1973), Singaporean singer-songwriter * Cyril May (born 1929), Australian singer-songwriter * Daniel May (disambiguation), several people *

Darrell May Darrell Kevin May (born June 13, 1972) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. Career May's professional baseball career began when the Atlanta Braves drafted him in the 46th round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft. ...

(born 1972), American baseball player *

Dave May David LaFrance May (December 23, 1943 – October 20, 2012) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from through for the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rang ...

(1943–2012), American baseball player * David May (disambiguation) *

Deborah May Deborah May is an American actress and model. May won the Miss Indiana beauty pageant in 1970. Early life May was born in Remington, Indiana. Career May has appeared in a number of television shows during her career, include the major recur ...

, American actress *

Dent May James Dent May Jr. (born May 6, 1985) known by his stage name Dent May, is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, United States. He is mostly associated with psychedelic pop, synthpop, indie rock, and new wave genres of ...

(born 1985), American pop musician * Derrick May (baseball player) (born 1968) * Derrick May (musician) (born 1963), American electronic pop music composer * Donald May (1929–2022), American actor *

Doris May Doris May (born Helen Garrett; October 15, 1902 – May 12, 1984), was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 29 films between 1917 and 1927, generally as a leading lady. Most of her roles were in western film, westerns and come ...

(1902–1984), American film actress *

Dustin May Dustin Jake May (born September 6, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and made h ...

(born 1997), American baseball player *

Dusty May Dusty A. May Coaching career After graduating from Eastern Greene High School in Indiana in 1995, May served as a student manager at Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball, Indiana under Bob Knight as an undergraduate from 1996 to 2000. After graduat ...

(born 1976), American basketball coach *

Eddie May Edwin Charles May (19 May 1943 – 14 April 2012) was an English football player and manager. May was born in Epping, and played for Dagenham, Southend United, Wrexham and Swansea City. The burly, affable May loomed large in the modern hist ...

(1943–2012), English footballer and manager * Edith May (pseudonym of Anne Drinker; 1827–1903), American poet * Edmund May (1876–1956), German architect * Edna May (1878–1948), American singer and actress *

Eduard May Eduard Model Accessories is a Czech manufacturer of plastic models and finescale model accessories. Formed in 1989 in the city of Most, Eduard began in a rented cellar as a manufacturer of photoetched brass model components. Following the succ ...

(1905–1956), German biologist, Nazi entomologist, natural philosopher *

Ela Q. May Ela Queenie May (born c. 1890) was a child actress of the Edwardian era. She is probably best remembered as Liza, the Darling family servant, in the original production of ''Peter Pan'' (1904 – 1906) and later played Wendy Darling in the tourin ...

, child actress of the

Edwardian era The Edwardian era or Edwardian period of British history spanned the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910 and is sometimes extended to the start of the First World War. The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 marked the end of the Victori ...

Elaine May Elaine Iva May (née Berlin; born April 21, 1932) is an American comedian, filmmaker, playwright, and actress. She has received numerous awards including an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and a Tony. She made her initial impact in the 1950s with her ...

(born 1932), American screenwriter and director * Elizabeth May (born 1954), Canadian politician *

Elizabeth May (athlete) Elizabeth Nicola "Liz" Holst May (born 27 July 1983 in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg) is a female athlete from Luxembourg, who competed in triathlon from 2000 to 2013. May is a 2011 Aquathlon World Champion and is a 2009 European Championship silv ...

(born 1983), Luxembourgian triathlete * Emil May (1850–1933), German engineer * Ernst May (1886–1970), German architect * Erskine May, 1st Baron Farnborough (1815–1886), English constitutional lawyer *

Eva May Eva Maria Mandl (29 May 1902 – 10 September 1924), known professionally as Eva May, was an Austrian actress. She was the daughter of the film director Joe May and his wife Mia May. In 1924, she committed suicide by gunshot. Biography Eva Maria ...

(1902–1924), Austrian actress *

Fiona May Fiona May Iapichino (born 12 December 1969 in Slough, England) is a retired track and field athlete who competed for the United Kingdom and later Italy in the long jump. She won the World Championships twice and two Olympic silver medals. Her perso ...

(born 1969), British and Italian athlete and actress *

Francis Henry May Sir Francis Henry May (; 14 March 1860 – 6 February 1922) was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Fiji from 1911 to 1912 and Governor of Hong Kong from 1912 to 1918. Early life and education May was born in Dublin, Ire ...

(1860–1922), Hong Kong Governor *

Frederick May (composer) Frederick May (9 June 1911 – 8 September 1985) was an Irish composer and arranger. His musical career was seriously hindered by a lifelong hearing problem and he produced relatively few compositions. Early years Frederick May was born into a D ...

(1911–1985), Irish composer * Frederick May (engineer) (John Frederick May, 1840–1897), Australian engineer and inventor *

George May, 1st Baron May George Ernest May, 1st Baron May, 1st Baronet (20 June 1871 – 10 April 1946) was a British financial expert and public servant. Early life and career May was the younger son of William May, a grocer and wine merchant, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshir ...

(1871–1946), British financial expert and public servant * George S. May (1890–1962), American business and pre-eminent golf promoter *

Gisela May Gisela May (31 May 1924 – 2 December 2016) was a German actress and singer. Early life May was born in Wetzlar, Germany. Both her mother, Kate May, and her father, Ferdinand May, were writers. She studied at the drama school in Leipzig from 19 ...

(1924–2016), German actress * Graham May (1952–2006), New Zealand weightlifter * Guillermo May (born 1998), Uruguayan football player *

Gustave May Gustave Henry May (June 2, 1881 – May 31, 1943) was a photographer and politician in Alberta, Canada. He co-operated the first photo-engraving business in western Canada and served on the Edmonton City Council from 1912 until 1914. Biograph ...

(1881–1943), American photographer *

Hans May Hans May (11 July 1886 – 1 January 1959) was an Austrian-born composer who went into exile in Britain in 1936 after the Nazis came to power in his homeland, being of Jewish descent. May first gained attention as a composer during the 1920s a ...

(1886–1958), Austrian film music composer * Henry May (disambiguation) *

Hugh May Hugh May (1621 – 21 February 1684) was an English architect in the period after the Restoration of King Charles II. He worked in the era which fell between the first introduction of Palladianism into England by Inigo Jones, and the full flowerin ...

(1621–1684), English architect * Imelda May (born 1974), Irish singer *

Irma May Irma May (born June 10, 1899) was a Polish social reformer and humanitarian who sought to publicise within North America the plight of Eastern European Jews during the 1920s. Career Irma Weitzenkorn, later known as Irma May, was born in the Polish ...

(1899-?), Polish social reformer *

Jack May Jack Wynne May (23 April 1922 – 19 September 1997) was an English actor. Early life and education May was born in 1922 in Henley-on-Thames, and was educated at Forest School in Walthamstow. After war service with the Royal Indian Navy in Bri ...

(1922–1997), English actor * James May (born 1963), English motor journalist and TV presenter * Jan May (born 1995), German cyclist * Jesse May (born 1980), American poker player * Jodhi May (born 1975), English actress * Joe May (disambiguation) * Joe May (1880–1954), Austrian film director * Johann Friedrich May (1697–1762), German political scientist * John May (disambiguation) * Jon May (born 1939), American mathematician *

Jonathan May Jonathan May (October 9, 1958 – February 27, 2010) was an American cellist and conductor (music), conductor. He resided in the Orlando, Florida area and was noted for founding and directing numerous youth orchestras and music programs throughout ...

(1958–2010), American cellist and conductor * Joseph May (born 1974), English actor * Julia Harris May (1833–1912), American poet, teacher, school founder *

Julian May Julian Clare May (July 10, 1931 – October 17, 2017) was an American science fiction, fantasy, horror, science and children's writer who also used several literary pseudonyms. She is best known for her ''Saga of Pliocene Exile'' (''Saga of the ...

(1931–2017), American science fiction author * Julie von May (1808–1875), Swiss feminist *

Juliet May Juliet May is a British television director. She has directed television shows such as ''Dalziel and Pascoe (TV series), Dalziel and Pascoe'', ''Hope and Glory (TV series), Hope and Glory'', ''New Tricks'' and ''Miranda (TV series), Miranda''. ...

(born 1966), English film director *

Juliet May (judge) Dame Juliet Mary May (born 21 March 1961), styled The Hon. Mrs Justice May, is a judge of the High Court of England and Wales. May was educated at Wadham College, Oxford and called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1988. She was appointed Queen's ...

(born 1961), English judge *

Jürgen May Jürgen May (born 18 June 1942 in Nordhausen, Thuringia) is a former middle-distance runner, who was a successful athlete and Olympic Games competitor, who escaped from the GDR to continue his career in the FRG. Successes in the GDR *1964: Qual ...

(born 1942), German athlete *

Karl May Karl Friedrich May ( , ; 25 February 1842 – 30 March 1912) was a German author. He is best known for his 19th century novels of fictitious travels and adventures, set in the American Old West with Winnetou and Old Shatterhand as main pro ...

(1842–1912), German writer *

Karl Ivanovich May Karl May School (russian: Петербургская школа Карла Мая) is a secondary school in Saint Petersburg, Russia. History Founding In 1856, on the day of the Autumn Equinox (22 September), on the initiative of a few German fa ...

(1820–1895), Russian educator *

Kathy May Kathy May Fritz (born June 18, 1956) is an American former professional tennis player. She reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals, once at the US Open in 1978 and twice at the French Open in 1977 and 1978. She won seven WTA singles titles durin ...

(born 1956), American tennis player *

Kenneth May Kenneth O. May (July 8, 1915, in Portland, Oregon – December 1977, in Toronto) was an American mathematician and historian of mathematics, who developed May's theorem. May was a prime mover behind the International Commission on the History of ...

(1915–1977), American mathematician * Lady May, American rapper * Larry May (born 1958), English footballer *

Lee May Lee Andrew May (March 23, 1943 – July 29, 2017) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman and designated hitter from to for the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Baltimo ...

(1943–2017), American baseball player * London May (born 1967), American rock musician * Mac May (born 1999), American volleyball player *

Margaret May Margaret Ann May (born 30 June 1950), is an Australian politician who was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives from October 1998 to July 2010, representing McPherson, Queensland. May was born in Ba, F ...

(born 1950), Australian politician *

Márcio May Márcio May (born 22 May 1972) is a Brazilian road bicycle and track cyclist, who competed in three Summer Olympics (1992, 1996 and 2004) for his native country. He won two bronze medals during his career at the Pan American Games (1995 and 1999 ...

(born 1972), Brazilian cyclist *

Marc May Marc Edward May (born January 1,1956) is a former American football tight end who played one season with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue University and attended South Shore High School ...

(born 1956), American football player * Mark May (born 1959), American football player *

Mathilda May Mathilda May (born Karin Haïm; 8 February 1965) is a French film actress. Early life May was born in Paris, France. Her father, playwright Victor Haïm, is of Sephardic Jewish ( Greek-Jewish and Turkish-Jewish) descent. Her mother is the Sw ...

(born 1965), French actress *

Mia May Mia May (born Hermine Pfleger; 2 June 1884 – 28 November 1980) was an Austrian actress. She was married to the Austrian film producer and director Joe May and appeared in 44 films between 1912 and 1924. Her daughter was the actress Eva May ...

(1884–1980), Austrian actress *

Michaela May Michaela (Hebrew מיכאלה) is a female given name. It is a female form of the Hebrew name Michael (מִיכָאֵל), which means "Who is like God". As of 2008, it was 357th in rank for newborn girls in the United States, and 325th in England ...

(born 1952), German actress *

Michael May (racing driver) Michael May (born 18 August 1934 in Stuttgart, Germany) is a former racing driver and engineer from Switzerland. He participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 14 May 1961. He scored no championship points. A ...

(born 1934), Swiss racing driver * Michael May (cricketer) (born 1971), English cricketer *Mick May (born 1976 Coventry), Rugby player *

Mike May (Iowa politician) Mike May (born June 22, 1945, in Hobbs, New Mexico) was the Iowa State Representative from the 6th District. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2005 through 2011. He received his BA from Simpson College and his MS from Minnesota ...

(born 1945), American politician (Iowa) *

Mike May (skier) Michael G. May (born 1953) is an American business executive, skier and enthusiast of other sports who was blinded by a chemical explosion at the age of three, but regained partial vision in 2000, at the age of 46, after cornea transplants and a ...

(born 1954), winter Paralympics athlete *

Milt May Milton Scott May (born August 1, 1950) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and San F ...

(born 1950), American baseball player * Nataliya May (born 1968), Ukrainian singer * Patricia May, Chilean anthropologist *

Percy May Percy Robert "Phil" May (13 March 1884 – 6 December 1965) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1902 to 1910, and a final match in 1926. Life and career May was born to Henry and Emma May in Chertsey in Surrey, where H ...

(1884–1965), English cricketer * Peter May (cricketer) (1929–1994), English cricketer * Peter May (writer) (born 1951), Scottish writer *

Phil May (caricaturist) Philip William May (22 April 1864 – 5 August 1903) was an England, English caricaturist who, with his vigorous economy of line, played an important role in moving away from Victorian styles of illustration towards the creation of the modern hu ...

(1864–1903), English illustrator *

Phil May (singer) Philip Dennis Arthur May (born Wadey, later Kattner; 9 November 1944 – 15 May 2020) was an English vocalist. He gained fame in the 1960s as the lead singer of Pretty Things, of which he was a founding member. May remained a member thro ...

(1944–2020), English rock singer and lyricist * Philip May (born 1957), husband of Theresa May *

Ralphie May Ralph Duren May (February 17, 1972 – October 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, known for his extensive touring and comedy specials on multiple media platforms. Early life May was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and raised in ...

(1972–2017), American comedian * Richard May (disambiguation) *

Rick May Rick May (September 21, 1940 – April 8, 2020) was a Canadian-American voice actor, theatrical performer, director, and teacher. May provided the English-language voice for Peppy Hare and Andross in ''Star Fox 64'', the Soldier in '' Team Fort ...

(1940–2020), American (voice) actor, theatrical performer, director, and teacher * Robert May (disambiguation) * Rollo May (1909–1994), American psychologist *

Rüdiger May Ruediger May (born 26 November 1974 in Meerane, Saxony) is a prolific German cruiserweight boxer known for his stinging jab. He challenged once for the WBO world cruiserweight title in 2004. Professional As an amateur May boxed in 76 fights, ma ...

(born 1974), German boxer *

Rudy May Rudolph May, Jr. (born July 18, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher in and from to for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Exp ...

(born 1944), American baseball player * Sarah May (born 1972), English writer *

Scott May Scott Glenn May (born March 19, 1954) is an American former professional basketball player. As a college player at Indiana University, May led the Hoosiers to an undefeated record and national championship in the 1975–76 season. He was a two-t ...

(born 1954), American basketball player * Sean May (born 1984), American basketball player * Simon May (born 1944), English film and TV music composer * Søren Nielsen May (died 1679), Danish priest *

Theresa May Theresa Mary May, Lady May (; née Brasier; born 1 October 1956) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She previously served in David Cameron's cab ...

(born 1956), British former Prime Minister * Tim May (born 1962), Australian cricketer *

Timothy C. May Timothy C. May, better known as Tim May (December 21, 1951 – December 13, 2018) was an American technical and political writer, and electronic engineer and senior scientist at Intel. May was also the founder of the crypto-anarchist movement. He ...

, (1951–2018) American engineer and writer *

Tina May Daphne Christina May (30 March 1961 – 26 March 2022), known professionally as Tina May, was an English jazz vocalist. Early life and career The younger of two daughters born to Harry May and Daphne E. Walton,Thomas May (1594/5–1650), English poet *

Tom May (rugby union) Tom May (born 5 February 1979 in London, UK) is a former rugby union player. May enjoyed a nineteen-year career that incorporated spells at Newcastle Falcons, Toulon Rugby, Northampton Saints and London Welsh.Torsten May (born 1969), German boxer *

Trevor May Trevor Joseph May (born September 23, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins and New York Mets. May is also a part-owner ...

(born 1989), American baseball player * Vladimir May-Mayevsky (1867–1920), Russian general *

William May (theologian) William May (died 1560), also known as William Meye, was Dean of the Order of the British Empire. He was nominated Archbishop of York in 1560, but died before he could take office. William May was the brother of John May, bishop of Carlisle. H ...

(died 1560), English archbishop * Wop May (1896–1952), Canadian pilot * Zakhar May (born 1969), Russian rock musician

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:May (Surname) German-language surnames Germanic-language surnames English-language surnames Burmese-language surnames Surnames of Burmese origin

See also

Notes