Major Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Major last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Major last name
Meaning of the Major last name: council spear. Major is an English surname from the Norman personal name Mauger, of Germanic origin, from madal, "council", and gār, "spear". The last name is found across England, Scotland and America. Curiously, it is shared by John Major, British prime minister from 1990 to 1997.
Arms associated with the Major name
Coats of arms associated with the Major surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Major family history
This is only a glimpse of the Major story. The full Major history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Major coat of arms. Get the full Major report.
Major name FAQ
What does the Major name mean?
Council spear. Common variants include Mauger, Majors.
Where does the Major surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Major coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Major coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).