Recorded in several forms including Maynard, Mainard, Meinard, Minard, Mynard and the patronymic Minards, this is an Anglo-French surname. In England it is very well recorded and especially in the western counties of Somerset and Devon. Perhaps curiously the derivation is from the Olde German 7th century personal name 'Maginhard', composed of the elements 'magin' meaning strength, and 'hard', meaning brave and hardy. As well as being recorded in England after the Norman Conquest o1 1066, it appears in the medieval French charters for such regions as Brittany, Bordeaux and Paris. The coat of arms is a red volcano on a blue field, surmounted by two silver knights spurs. The earliest recording in England is that of Meinardus of Norfolk, in the Famous Domesday Book of 1086. it is understood that he was a well known follower and companion of King William 1st of England, the former Duke of Normandy, in 1066, at the time of the famous conquest. As a hereditary surname the first recording of the family name is believed to be that of Robert Mainard. This as dated 1198 in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire, during the reign of King Richard 1st, and known as 'Lionheart', 1189-1199 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.

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