Maillard Family History

equivalent of Mailhot. from a Germanic personal name: according to Morlet, Magilhard, composed of the elements magil, an augmented form of magin, magan ‘strength’, ‘might’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’. Debrabandere, however, derives it from the Germanic personal name Madelhard, from madal ‘council’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’. There are Huguenot families bearing this name.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press