The family name 'Majláth' has no meaning in either Hungarian or Rumanian. One must look to the Slavic languages from which family names such as Bogát, Szólát, Mikszáth, and Bajzát come from. According to Dr. Karácsonyi János, if you split the name 'Majlát' into the syllables 'maj' and 'lat', then 'maj' means 'my or mine' in English or 'enyém' in Hungarian signifying possession. The second syllable 'lat' has its roots in the Russian or southern Slavic word for armour or steel. In northern Slavic this word refers to some kind of wooden structure that protects a house. In earlier or older Slavic languages the name 'Majlát' means 'my armour' or 'my defender'.

A Majláth szó a román (és Magyar) nyelvben semmit sem jelent és abból meg nem fejthetõ. Másrészt azonban látjuk, hogy a szláv nyelvekben, Bogát, Szólát, Mikszáth, Bajzát családnevek, brkat, krilat melléknevek fordulnak elõ. Ez arra kényszerit bennünket, hogy a Majláth név eredetét a szláv nyelvekben keressük, annál is inkább, mert a bolgár-szlávoknál Angelát családnév, a kisoroszoknál Vihorlát hegynév találhatók és ezek utolsó szótagukban a Majláth névvel egyeznek. Dr. Karácsonyi János azt írta hogy ha már most a Majlát nevet is széttagoljuk moj-ra, és lát-ra, ennek is meg kapjuk az értelmét. 'Moj' ugyanis annyit tesz mint 'enyém', 'lat' pedig az orosz- és délszlávban páncélt, az északi szlávban pedig lécet, vagy deszkát, tehát házvédõ eszközt jelent. 'Majlát' tehát az ó szlávban annyit tett, mint 'páncélom' 'védõm'.

In Nagy Iván's work on the Families of Hungary, Lampert István (descended from the Akus race) and his sons Miklós and Moinót (whom Bonfin wrote as Majlát) were murdered in 1131 at a congregation in Arad county. From this Moinót or Majláth originated the Majláth family according to Pethõ Gergely.	Nagy Iván írja hogy az Akus nembõl származott Lampert István, és fiai Miklós és Moinót, (kit Bonfin Majlát-nak ír) 1131-ben az aradi gyûlésen, mint II. Béla király vakságának okozói ölettek meg. Ezen nevezett Moinót, vagy Majláth-tól származtatik a Majláth család, mint Pethõ Gergely megírja.

Bonfin, Ans. Hist. és Thuróczy Cronicon.
Pethõ Gergely, Magyar Krónika, Kassán 1729. 34 pages.

I do not have access to these references. Who and what were the Akus race?

J. Siebmacher mentions that the "Malath" name was first written in 1335 by Malath Mester, the son of Benedict. The name appears in 1413 as used by an András who was called "Malath" and a citizen of the historical Hungarian county of Pozsony (now Bratislava, Slovakia).

In 1415, the name "Mayláth" was used by someone called Dragomir. Up to this time the Mayláth name was only a nickname and had not yet been adopted as a family name.

It was not until the 15th. Century that the Maylad de Szunyogszeg family appeared in the county of Fogaras, Erdély of historical Hungary now Transylvania, Rumania.

A family may get its name by various obvious means: (a) a deliberate change of name or by means of adoption; (b) from a place name; (c) from a trade or a profession; (d) and the least likely source is direct descent from some family belonging to the nobility.

It is possible that some of us got the family name from a place or village where our ancestors lived for a long time. I have identified at least four places with the Majláth name; one in Felvidék (now Slovakia); one in Baranya and one in Csongrád counties of modern Hungary; and one in Temes county, Erdély of historical Hungary (now Transylvania, Rumania).

The first one was Presztavnik a Tóth ethnic community in the historical Hungarian county of Bars. It had its name changed in 1890 to Mailáth in honour of a past county governor, Mailáth István. After 1920, the village name was changed to Prestavlky now in Slovakia. The village is about 7 Km. from Garamszentkereszt in Hungarian or "?iar nad Hronom" in Slovakian. The village name of Mailáth existed for too short a time for many families to adopt this new name and spread over Hungary and the world. Click on the map on the left for a larger view.

The second is Mailáthpuszta, Baranya county in modern Hungary. Puszta means 'prairie' or 'plain'. This place is about 36 Km. from the city of Pécs (pronounced Peach). I do not know how the place got its name or when. Some families may have gained their name from this place. Click on the map on the left for a larger view.

The third is Nagyér, Csongrád county in modern Hungary. This village used to be called Nagymajlát and Majláth after Lord Chief Justice Majláth György. This place was originally in the historical county of Csanád which was merged with Csongrád county. It received its present name of Nagyér in 1952 and is 25 Km. from Makó and 46 Km. from Szeged. Click on the map on the left for a larger view.

The fourth was Majláthfalva, Temes, Erdély, Hungary now called Mailat in Rumania. Falva means 'the village of'. It is about 23 Km. from Arad and 33 Km. from Temesvár,Timiºoara in Rumania.I do not know how the village got its name or when. Some families may have gained their name from this place. Click on the map on the left for a larger view.

There is another place called Mailáthgárdony and maybe others as well.

Not all names listed here are necessarily related, but they are very similar. Some possible versions of the Majláth name that have been observed:

No doubt there are others. Marc Majlath kindly pointed out there were Majlaths in Germany also.
Thanks to Thomas Milot (USA) for pointing out another possible variation of the name.

The county coat-of-arms are from the site by András Szeitz and Don Mabry.

Last updated 22 December 2005

Maintainer T. Majlath