Mayes is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Adrian Mayes (born 1980), American football player Alan Mayes (born 1953), English footballer Bernard Mayes (1929–2014), British-American lecturer and author Clifford Mayes (born 1953), American professor of education Clyde Mayes (born 1953), American professional basketball player Colin Mayes (born 1948), Canadian politician Derrick Mayes (born 1974), American football player Frances Mayes (born 1940), American university professor, poet, memoirist, essayist, and novelist Ian Mayes, British journalist and editor Jeff Mayes (born 1971), American politician Joel B. Mayes (died 1891), Chief of the Cherokee Nation Johnny Mayes (born 1947), Australian rugby league player Pete Mayes (1938–2008), American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter Richard Mayes (1922–2006), English stage and television actor Robert Burns Mayes (1867–1921), justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi Ron Mayes (born 1954), American educator and author Rueben Mayes (born 1963), Canadian football player Rufus Mayes (born 1947), American football player Samuel Houston Mayes (1845–1927), Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1895 to 1899 Sean Mayes (1949–1995), English rock musician and author Wendell Wise Mayes Jr. (1924–2021), American radio and cable television executive William Mayes Jr., prominent pirate, proprietor of White Horse Tavern (Rhode Island) William Edward Mayes (1861–1952), English painter See also Mays (disambiguation) Maze (disambiguation) Maize (disambiguation) Mais (disambiguation) Maye (disambiguation)