The Spanish word 'mayor' comes directly from the Latin word 'maior', meaning 'greater' or 'larger'. The spelling evolved from Latin 'i' to Spanish 'y', but the meaning has remained essentially unchanged over time, continuing to express the concept of something being bigger or greater in size or importance.

Some common related Spanish words include 'mayoría' (majority), 'mayormente' (mainly), and 'mayordomo' (butler - literally 'the greater one of the house'). All these words share the root 'mayor' and relate to concepts of greatness or superiority in some way.

The English word 'major' is a direct cousin of Spanish 'mayor', as both come from Latin 'maior'. While Spanish kept the comparative meaning of 'greater/larger', English 'major' developed to mean 'important' or 'main', as in 'major issue' or 'major league'. The English word 'mayor' (meaning city leader) is also related, coming from the same Latin root - originally meaning the 'greater' or 'superior' person in charge of a town.