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The Mayor surname in England was originally a French-language surname of Norman origin.
The Mayor surname originates from, and is a variant of, the personal name Mauger, and carries the meanings of "council spear" and "authority".
The French surname Mauger became Anglicized after the Norman Conquest of 1066, taking several forms including Mayre in Middle English and eventually Mayor.
The surname is believed to have originated from Archbishop Mauger de Rouen, the uncle of William the Conqueror.
The original Mayor/Mauger coat-of-arms is composed of a knight's helmet, a red greyhound to indicate courage, vigilance and loyalty, three red roses, and a ships anchor to indicate religious steadfastness. This theme is also reflected in the Mayor/Mauger family motto, "Mea Anchora Christus", meaning "Christ is my anchor". These symbols are set against a red and yellow backdrop to indicate the colours that make up the flag of Normandy.