Surname Mait - Meaning and Origin
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Mait: What does the surname Mait mean?
The last name Mait is of French origin and it is derived from the Latin term “magnate”, which means “great one” or “a powerful person”. It is believed to have originated in the region of Poitou in France, which was an area of the kingdom of Aquitaine and was part of the cultural region of Occitania.
The last name Mait is believed to have initially been used to denote a great and powerful person, such as a magistrate or a nobleman. However, over the centuries, the last name has been adopted by non-nobles as well, with some descendants of the name also being found in England, America, Canada, Scotland, and Ireland.
In contemporary times, the last name Mait is not as common as it was centuries ago. It remains a surname that is strongly associated with its French origin and it is usually associated with individuals who possess hereditary qualities of strength, intelligence, and conviction.
The last name Mait is a testament to the long-standing tradition of hereditary power and authority in France and to those who have had the courage to challenge and overcome the obstacles that life has presented them with. It is a reminder of the power and strength that can be found in a family lineage and it is an inspiration to strive for more.
Order DNA origin analysisMait: Where does the name Mait come from?
The last name Mait is most commonly found in India. It is an Indian name of Sanskrit origin that means 'leader' and is mostly found in the Indian states of Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. Mait is also an Indian surname found in Bangladesh, Nepal, United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
In the United States, Mait is the 4,217th most common name, with 145 entries in the US Census in 2020. It is most prominent in New Jersey, where it ranks 972nd, followed by Florida (1,217th), Massachusetts (1,347th), Minnesota (1,542nd) and Nebraska (1,958th).
In the United Kingdom, Mait is the 2,937th most common last name, with 89 entries in the UK Census from 2019. It is most commonplace in London, where it ranks 1,231st, followed by Hertfordshire (1,733rd), Surrey (1,893rd) and West Midlands (1,926th).
In Australia, Mait is the 2,415th most common last name, with 98 entries from the most recent census in 2016. Its highest concentration is in Victoria, ranking 1,424th, followed by New South Wales (1,566th), Queensland (1,608th) and Western Australia (1,859th).
Variations of the surname Mait
The surname Mait has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Mait is derived from the Old French personal name Maheu, which is derived from the Latin name Mauritius and means “dark-skinned” or “of the Moor”. Variants, spellings, and surnames of Mait include Mat, Matte, Mattey, Mader, Maitland, Maitlen, Maitlin, Mates, Matey, Mathe, Mathie, Mathison, Matison, Mathis, Mathison, Matheson, Macmahone, Macket, Macmat, MacMathew, Matheson, Mather, and Methson.
Mait is most common in Scotland, where it is a locative name from any of the places so called, particularly from the barony of Maitland in the county of Midlothian. It has also been found in northern Ireland and in parts of the United States, particularly the New York and New England states.
Matte is the French variant of Mait and is most common in Quebec, Canada. Mattey and Mattey-vedrine are rarer rarer variant found in Québec.
Mader is a German variant of Mait, while Maitland may be either a Scottish variant or an habitational name from a place of the same name in Scotland.
Mates is an English variant of Mait and is found mostly in Kent and Sussex. Matey is a variant from Chillicothe, Ohio.
Mathe is a Swiss variant, Mathie, Mathison, and Matison are variants from Scotland, and Mathis is a Dutch and Belgian variant.
Macmahone, Macket, Macmat, MacMathew, Matheeson, and Methson are Scottish Gaelic variants of the surname. Mather is found mainly in Lancashire, England.
Overall, the surname Mait has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Mait
- Dave Mait, senior English instructor at Northern Virginia Community College
- Lin Mait, critically acclaimed Chinese and Cantonese special effects artist
- Mait Metsanurk, former Prime Minister of Estonia
- Mait Matsuo, Japanese football player
- Mait Müürsepp, an Estonian basketball player
- Mait Paunk, an Estonian football player
- Mait Reimann, an Estonian businessperson and philanthropist
- Mait Savitsk, a retired Estonian football player
- Mait Riisman, an Estonian visually impaired paralympic swimmer
- Mait Künnap, an Estonian architect and urban planner