The surname Mayhew probably derives from Mahieu the medieval French version of Matthew. It seems to have been principally introduced into England by the Normans after the 1066 conquest and later from 12th century crusaders returning from the Holy Land whose decendants were frequently named with biblical names in honour of their father’s endeavours. Today, there are approximately 6,215 people with this surname in the UK[1].
Historically there has been an unusually high local population of Mayhew as a surname around Suffolk and Norfolk in East Anglia:
The first Mayhew identified in our own family tree is John Mayhew, who married Sarah Hall in 1715 Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Their eldest son, also named John, was a farmer in Mundham, Norfolk, who died and was buried there in 1769. Farmer John fathered at least 13 children and our own line descends from his seventh son Isaac:
John Mayhew (? – 1769) married Sarah Hall (? – 1764)
At least one son: John
John Mayhew (1716 – 1769) married Sarah Harvey (? – 1764)
Thirteen children: Sarah, John, Michael, Samuel (1), Roger, Anne (1), Isaac, Samuel (2), William (1), William (2), William (3), Anne (2) and Margaret
Isaac Mayhew (1746 – 1813) married Mary Smith (? – 1799)
Eleven children: Isaac, Mary, Roger, Michael, Ann, Rhode, Sarah, Catharine, Susan, Jemima and Diana [twins]
Michael Mayhew (1777 – 1855) married Elizabeth Barrett (1775 – 1844)
Thirteen children: Mary, Michael, Elizabeth (1), Eliza and Elizabeth (2) [twins], Isaac, Sarah, Priscilla and Henry [twins], Susan, Charlotte, William, and John
Henry Mayhew (1812 – 1881) married Ann Baker (1811 – 1871)
Three children: William James, John Thomas, and Richard Alfred
Richard Alfred Mayhew (1849 – 1927) married Ann ‘Annie’ Bristow (1851-1914)
Twelve children: Mary Elizabeth, Nelly Jane, Alfred George ‘George’, Frederick, Caroline, Arthur, Charles Thomas ‘Thomas’, William Lewis, Alice, Henry ‘Harry’, James, and Charles Edwin ‘Ted’ (whose only son Edwin George Albert ‘Ted’ Mayhew‘s story is also told on this site)
Alfred George ‘George’ Mayhew (1874 – 1951) married (1) Emma Levens (1873 – 1908) and (2) Constance Hilda White (1883 – 1941)
(1) Seven children: Edward George, William John, George, Emma Catherine, Richard Charles ‘Charlie’, Rose Annie, and Lily Violet Dorothy
(2) Six children: Constance Hilda, George, Frances A, Mabel Caroline, Walter C, and Gertrude Phyllis
Richard Charles ‘Charlie’ Mayhew (1902 – 1969) married Emily Banfield (1901 – 1989)
Three children: Arthur Richard, Edna, and Charles Peter ‘Peter’
Charles Peter ‘Peter’ Mayhew (1929 – 1980) married Elisabeth Neville Brock (1933 – 1985)
Two children: Natalie Susan (that’s me!), and Nicholas John ‘Nick’
Nicholas John ‘Nick’ Mayhew (1960 – 2021)
[i] https://britishsurnames.co.uk/surname/mayhew/stats last accessed 12 Dec 2021
