There are two possible origins for this interesting name. The first being, as it were, the English version, which is a development of the female name 'Mary' and means 'The son of Mary', being found as Marison, Maris, Maries and Mairs in the modern spelling. It is also possible that the name has a Scottish origin where it was job descriptive. A Mair being an enforcement Officer, although John Mair (1469 - 1550) was a School Teacher. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jasper Maires of Worcester. which was dated 1621, The Oxford University, Register. during the reign of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, 1625 - 1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.