May (family name)
May is a German family name , but it is also common in English-speaking countries.
origin
The name May is an outdated spelling and means "May". The surname May or Mai can have two origins: On the one hand, it can refer to the date of birth of the name bearer. On the other hand, in German-speaking countries it could also refer to the house name in which the name bearer lived, e.g. B. "Haus zum Meien" ( Meien = 'wreath'). House names are common from the 12th century, first in Cologne, later in the east and south as far as Vienna, and more rarely in north-east Germany.
variants
Name bearer
A.
- Abraham Bernard May (1912–1993), Namibian surgeon and politician
- Adam May (1855–1936), German leather manufacturer
- Adolf D. May (* 1927), American transport scientist
- Alan May (born 1965), Canadian ice hockey player
- Albert May, real name of Otto Albert (1885–1951), German teacher, writer and poet
- Albert May (actor) (actually Albert Maienfisch; 1897–1985), Swiss actor and singer
- Albert Emil May (1909–1995), American mathematician
- Albrecht Friedrich May (1773–1853), Swiss politician and diplomat
- Alexander May (actor) (1927–2008), German actor, screenwriter, director and producer
- Alexander May (director, 1970) (* 1970), German director
- Alfred May (philologist) (1804 – around 1878), British linguist, Scandinavian and translator
- Alfred May (art historian) (1908–1990), Austrian art historian and museum director
- Allan Nunn May (1911–2003), British physicist and spy
- Andreas May (1817–1899), German lawyer and poet
- Andrew J. May (1875–1959), American politician
- Anna May , married name of Anna Tassopoulos (1915-2007), Greek opera singer (soprano)
- Anna von May-Rychter (1864–1954), German painter and anthroposophist
- Anne May (* 1961), German literary scholar and librarian
- Arne May (* 1961), German neurologist and neuroscientist
- Arthur May (resistance fighter) (1902–1933), German journalist, politician and resistance fighter
- Arthur J. May ( Arthur James May ; 1899–1968), American historian and university professor
- Artur May (1922–2019), German lawyer
- August May (1826–1886), German chemist and manufacturer
B.
- Barbara May (* 1961), Austrian actress
- Bartholomäus May , Bernese military leader and statesman
- Bernhard May (* 1952), German political scientist
- Bill May (* 1979), American synchronized swimmer
- Billy May ( Edward William May Jr .; 1916-2004), American musician and composer
- Bob May (1939–2009), American actor and stunt performer
- Brad May (* 1971), Canadian ice hockey player
- Brian May (born 1947), British guitarist
- Brian May (composer) (1934–1997), Australian composer
C.
- Carey May-Edge (born 1959), Irish marathon runner
- Carl May (1747–1822), German phello sculptor
- Carl Christian Wilhelm May (1777–1846), German politician
- Carl Friedrich Rudolf May (1768–1846), Swiss politician
- Catherine Dean May (1914–2004), American politician
- Charles May (policeman) (1818? –1879), British policeman and colonial administrator
- Charles H. May ( Charles Henry May ; 1861–1943), American physiologist
- Charles S. May ( Charles Sedgwick May ; 1830–1901), American politician
- Christine May (* 1948), Scottish politician of Irish descent
- Christof May (* 1970), German clarinetist and saxophonist
- Christoph May (1757–1828), German librettist and translator
- Corinna May (* 1970), German singer
- Cornelis Jacobszoon May , Dutch explorer, captain and fur trader
D.
- Daniel May (* 1981), German politician (Alliance 90 / The Greens)
- David May (computer scientist) (* 1951), British computer scientist
- David May (soccer player) (born 1970), English soccer player
- David May (DJ) (* 1974), Swiss DJ
- Deborah May , actress
- Derrick May (born 1963), American musician
- Doro May (* 1953), German writer
- Dwight May (1822-1880) American politician
E.
- Earl May (1927–2008), American jazz bassist
- Eddie May (soccer player, 1943) ( Edwin Charles May ; 1943–2012), English soccer player
- Eddie May (football player, 1967) ( Edward Skillion May ; * 1967), Scottish football player
- Edgar May (* 1960), German cabaret artist, see Ranz and May
- Edmund May (1876–1956), German architect
- Edna May (born Edna May Pettie; 1878–1948), American actress and singer
- Eduard May (1905–1956), German biologist, scientific theorist and philosopher
- Edward May (soccer player) (1865-1941), English soccer player
- Edward Harrison May (1824-1887), American painter of British descent
- Edward John May (1853–1941), British architect
- Edward Ralph May (1819-1852), American politician
- Edwin H. May (1924–2002), American politician
- Ekkehard May (* 1937), German Japanologist
- Elaine May (* 1932), American actress, screenwriter and director
- Elizabeth May (politician) (* 1954), Canadian politician and lawyer
- Elizabeth May (triathlete) (* 1983), Luxembourgish triathlete
- Elmar May (1939–1999), German soccer player
- Emil May (1850–1933), German hydraulic engineer and civil servant
- Erik von Grawert-May (* 1944), German economist
- Ernest May (1878–1952), British hammer, spear and discus thrower
- Ernest R. May (1928–2009), American historian
- Ernst May (architect, 1878) (1878–1954), German architect
- Ernst May (1886–1970), German architect and urban planner
- Eugen May (* 1954), German actor
- Eva May (1902–1924), Austrian actress
- Eva-Maria May (* 1985), German actress
F.
- Ferdinand May (1896–1977), German dramaturge and author
- Ferdinand May (physician) (1898–1978), German urologist and university professor
- Fiona May (* 1969), Italian athlete
- Florence May (1845–1923), British pianist, music writer and composer
- Franz May (politician, 1869) (1869–1938), German businessman and politician, senator in Bremen
- Franz May (politician, 1903) (1903–1969), German politician (NSDAP) and SA leader
- Franz Anton May (1742–1814), German gynecologist and university professor, see Franz Anton Mai
- Friedrich von May (General, 1653) (1653–1721), Swiss general
- Friedrich von May (General, 1695) (1695–1776), Dutch general
- Friedrich von May (General, 1708) (1708–1799), Dutch general
- Friedrich May (painter) (1927–2009), German painter and graphic artist
- Friedrich May (sailor) (* 1947), German sailor
- Friedrich May von Schadau , Swiss politician
- Friedrich Wilhelm May (1820–1905), German farmer and politician (DFP)
- Fritz May (1914–1993), German winemaker and politician (FDP, DRP, NPD)
G
- Georg May (veterinarian) (1819–1881), German veterinarian
- Georg May (theologian) (* 1926), German theologian and canon lawyer
- Georg Heinrich May (1790–1853), German architect and construction clerk
- Georg Oswald May (1738–1816), German painter
- Gerhard May (Bishop) (1898–1980), Austrian clergyman, bishop of the Evangelical Church
- Gerhard May (theologian) (1940–2007), German theologian and university professor
- Gisela May (1924-2016), German singer and actress
- Glado von May (* 1937), Swiss opera director and artistic director
- Günter May (* 1951), German general
- Günther May (* 1922), German artist
- Guido May (* 1968), German drummer
- Gustav May (1897–1975), German-Austrian actor
H
- Hans May (composer) (1886–1958), Austrian-German-British composer
- Hans May (physician) (1902–1975), German surgeon
- Hans May (theologian) (1931–2019), German theologian and pastor
- Hans-Ulrich May (* 1935), German neurologist, neurophysiologist and psychiatrist
- Heinrich May (medic) (1825–1915), German medic
- Heinrich May (draftsman) (1887–1969), German draftsman
- Heinz May (1878–1954), German painter
- Hellmut May (1921–2011), Austrian figure skater
- Helmut May (composer) (1929–2013), German composer and writer
- Helmut May (cameraman) , German cameraman
- Henning May (* 1992), German singer
- Henriette May (nee Henriette Lövinson ; 1862–1928), German women's rights activist, teacher and social worker
- Henry May (1816–1866), American politician
- Herbert May (1926–2012), German basketball official and referee
- Hermann May (lawyer) (1832–1900), German lawyer, politician and writer
- Hermann May (economist) (* 1936), German economist and university professor
- Hermine May (* 1973), Romanian singer (mezzo-soprano)
- Hugh May (1621–1684), English architect
- Hugo May (1840–1899), entomologist and collector
I.
- Imelda May (* 1974), Irish singer and musician
- Ira May (* 1987), Swiss singer
J
- J. Peter May ( Jon Peter May ; * 1939), American mathematician
- Jakob von May († 1480/1485), Swiss politician
- Jakob May (civil servant) (1789–1873), German civil servant
- Jakob May (soccer player) , German soccer player
- James May (born 1963), British television presenter
- Jan May (trainer) , German athletics trainer
- Jan May (art historian) ( Jan Andreas May ; * 1973), German art historian
- Jan May (cyclist) (* 1995), German cyclist
- Jan Felix May (* 1993), German jazz musician
- Jan Jacobs May van Schellinkhout , Dutch captain
- Jesse May (* 1980), American commentator
- Jessica May (* 1979), Czech porn actress
- Jodhi May (born 1975), British actress
- Joe May (1880–1954), Austrian actor and director
- Johann May (local history researcher) (1855–1934), German teacher and local history researcher
- Johann Burchard May (also Majus, Maius, Mai, Maie ; 1652–1726), German philologist and historian
- Johann Ernst May (1785–1861), German major general
- Johann Friedrich May (also Mai ; 1697–1762), German ethnologist and political scientist
- Johann Heinrich May the Elder (also Johann Heinrich Majus, Johann Heinrich Mai ; 1653–1719), German theologian, philologist and historian
- Johann Heinrich May the Younger (also Johann Heinrich Majus, Johann Heinrich Mai ; 1688–1732), German philologist and university professor
- Johann Martin May (politician) (1793–1866), German politician
- Johann Martin May (entrepreneur) (1825–1919), German entrepreneur
- Johann Rudolf von May (1652–1715), French general
- Johann Valentin May (1827–1908), German lawyer and civil servant
- Johannes May (1592–1671), German doctor
- John Lawrence May (1922–1994), American clergyman, Archbishop of St. Louis
- Jonny May (* 1990), English rugby union player
- Josef May (* 1960), German company manager
- Joseph May (1836–1918), American clergyman and theologian
- Julian May (1931–2017), American writer
- Julie von May (von Rued) (1808–1875), Swiss women's rights activist
- Jürgen May (athlete) (* 1942) German athlete
- Jürgen May (politician) (* 1950), German politician (SPD)
K
- Karl May (1842–1912), German writer
- Karl May (sculptor) (1884–1961), German sculptor and painter
- Karl-Hermann May (1903–1990), German Protestant theologian and historian
- Karl M. May (1893–1943), Austrian composer of hits, revues, operettas and film music
- Karl Maria May (1886–1963), Austrian painter
- Katie May (1981-2016), American model
- Kenneth May (1915–1977), American mathematician
- Klara May (1864–1944), German wife of Karl May
- Klaus May (architect) (1920–2012), German architect
- Klaus May (cyclist) (1939-2004), German cyclist
- Kristina May (* 1987), Canadian beach volleyball player
- Kurt May (1892–1959), German literary historian
L.
- Lin May (* 1973), German-Iraqi sculptor
- Lisa May-Mitsching (* 1991), German voice actress
- Ludwig von May († after 1904), German lawyer
- Ludwig May (lawyer, 1903) (1903–1973), German lawyer and music teacher
- Ludwig May (painter) (* 1965), German painter
M.
- Márcio May (* 1972), Brazilian racing cyclist
- Maria May (textile designer) (1900–1968), German textile designer
- Maria May (actress) (* 1998), American dancer, actress and voice actress
- Maria May Brodney (1894–1973), Australian politician
- Maria Theresia May (1851–1927), Austrian journalist and writer
- Mark Dornford-May (born 1955), British director
- Martin May (* 1961), German actor
- Mathilda May (* 1965), French actress
- Matthias May (1884–1923), German-Austrian painter and graphic artist
- Max May († 1959), German architect and artist
- Maximilian May (* 1988), German racing cyclist
- Mia May (1884–1980), Austrian actress
- Michael May (court factor) (around 1680–1737), German court factor and founder
- Michael May (racing driver) (* 1934), Swiss automobile racing driver
- Michael May (social worker) (* 1956), German social worker
- Michael May (political scientist) (* 1973), German political scientist
- Michael May (athlete) (* 1979), German long-distance runner
- Michael L. May , American entomologist
- Michaela May (* 1952), German actress
- Miranda May (* 1996), American actress
- Missy May (* 1986), Austrian presenter, singer and actress
- Misty May-Treanor (* 1977), American beach volleyball player
- Mitchell May (1870–1961), American politician
- Moira May (* 1991), German voice actress
N
- Norrie May-Welby (* 1961), Scottish-Australian cartoonist and transgender activist
- Nourhene May (* 1991), Tunisian weightlifter
O
- Otto May (agronomist) (1833–1914), German agricultural scientist
- Otto May (physiologist) (1879-1946), British physiologist
- Otto May (journalist) (1897 – after 1926), German journalist and politician
- Otto May (engineer) (1900–1961), German engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and university professor
- Otto May (painter) , German painter
- Otto May (collector) (* 1951), German teacher and postcard collector
- Otto May (officer) , German naval officer
- Otto B. May (1880–1952), German-American pharmacologist, chemist and industrialist
- Otto Heinrich May (1887–1977), German historian and librarian
P
- Paul May (1909–1976), German director, screenwriter and producer
- Paula May (born Paula Pillesmüller ; 1891–1946), Austrian painter and art teacher
- Peter May (cricketer) (1929-1994), English cricketer
- Peter May (Manager) (1933–2019), Swiss brewery manager
- Peter May (writer) (born 1951), Scottish writer
- Peter May (management consultant) (* 1958), German management consultant
- Phil May (cartoonist) ( Philip William May; 1864–1903), British cartoonist
- Phil May (track and field athlete) ( Philip John May; 1944-2014), Australian long and triple jumper
- Phil May (singer) ( Philip Arthur Dennis Wadey; 1944-2020), British rock singer
- Philipp May (1776–1851), German farmer and member of the Nassau state parliament
R.
- Ralphie May (1972–2017), American comedian and actor
- Raphael Ernst May (1858–1933), German business journalist
- Reinhard May (* around 1950), German lawyer, legal scholar, philosopher and university professor
- Renato May (1909–1969), Italian film editor and director
- Richard May (1938-2004), British lawyer
- Ricky May-Wolsdorff (* 1963), Austrian actress and director
- Robert May (1936-2020), Australian zoologist
- Roland May (soccer player) (* 1942), German soccer player
- Roland May (actor) (* 1955), German actor, theater director and artistic director
- Roland May (director) (* 1960), German television director and author
- Roland May alias Roland 138 BPM (* 1964), German techno DJ and musician
- Roland May (architectural historian) (* 1969), German architectural historian
- Rolf May (* 1956), German painter and sculptor
- Rollo May (1909-1994), American psychotherapist
- Rüdiger May (author) (* 1949), German political scientist and consultant
- Rüdiger May (* 1974), German boxer
- Rudolf May (SA member) (1902–1941), German-Austrian SA leader
- Rudolf May (soccer coach) (1953–2015), German soccer coach and official
S.
- Samuel E. May (1826-1894), American politician
- Scott May (basketball player) (born 1954), American basketball player
- Scott May (baseball player) (born 1961), American baseball player
- Scott May (ice hockey player) (born 1982), Canadian ice hockey player
- Sean May (* 1984), American basketball player
- Sebastian May (* 1988), German racing cyclist
- Sibylle May , British sculptor
- Stefan May (* 1956), German economist
- Stevie May (actually Steven May ; * 1992), Scottish football player
- Suzanne May (born 1971), British actress
T
- Tanja May (* 1947), German pop singer
- Teresa May (* 1966), British model
- Theodor W. May (* 1953), German psychologist, mathematician and university professor
- Theresa May (* 1956), British politician
- Thomas May (poet) (1595–1650), English poet and historian
- Thomas May (historian) (* 1958), German historian
- Thomas May (moderator) (* 1975), Austrian moderator
- Tim May (* 1991), German ice hockey player
- Timothy C. May (1951-2018), American computer scientist
- Tina May (* 1961), British jazz singer
- Todd May (* 1955), American philosopher
- Toni May (1914-2004), German painter
- Torsten May (* 1969), German boxer
W.
- Walo von May (1879–1928), Swiss illustrator
- Walter May (politician) (1900–1953), German politician (SPD)
- Walter May (conductor) (1917 – after 1988), German conductor
- Walter May (author) (* 1937), German architectural historian and author
- Walther May (1868–1926), German zoologist and writer
- Werner May (writer) (1903–1975), German teacher, pastor and writer
- Werner May (psychologist) (* 1949), German psychologist and author
- Wilhelm May (medic) (1875–1964), German medic
- Wilhelm May (chronicler) (1940–2010), German chronicler and publicist
- Willi May (1911–1972), German soccer player
- William May (Admiral) (1849–1930) British Admiral
- William E. May (1928-2014), American theologian
- William F. May (1915-2011), American manager
- William L. May (1793–1849), American politician
- Willie May (1936–2012), American hurdler
- Willy May (1896–1962), German chess composer
- Winfried Huyer-May (* 1941/1942), German lawyer and composer
- Wolfgang May (1932–1998), German sculptor
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ Konrad Kunze: dtv-Atlas onenology. First and last names in the German-speaking area , 3rd edition. Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag, Munich 2000, p. 151.
- ^ Konrad Kunze: dtv-Atlas onenology. First and last names in the German-speaking area , 3rd edition. Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag, Munich 2000, p. 105.