Back to all words

Mayor

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the elected head of a city or town

Where does the word "mayor" come from? It comes from Latin major, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

major→maire→mayor

Latin · ancient

comparative of 'magnus', great

Old French · medieval

"head of a town"

the chief officer of a French town

English · 1300s

"town official"

London's first mayor took office around 1189; the spelling was later reshaped after Latin 'major'

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom

Read the full story

Mayor’s story begins in Latin: major meant “greater.” Comparative of 'magnus', great. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as maire. The chief officer of a French town. It reached English by 1300s as mayor. London's first mayor took office around 1189; the spelling was later reshaped after Latin 'major'. Today, mayor means the elected head of a city or town.