MEE members around the world

MEE Family History

The English holders of this early surname derive from one of four sources. Three loosely French medieval, the other 18th Century Irish. The most usual is from a hypocoristic form of the ancient Hebrew personal name "Matthew", shortened to Mai, Mey, or May. However, these forms in themselves were symbols of endearment akin to the popular "Cousin" or "Dear Child". The third possibility is locational from the French town of Mee; the word means the marsh or swamp. The fourth is from an Anglicization of the Irish-Gaelic "Miadhaigh", which translates as "the honourable one". The original County Westmeath spelling was O'Miey, later contracted to Mea, Mee and May...