The Society of Mayflower Descendants is a special hereditary organization comprised of a diverse group of individuals who have documented their descent from one or more of the 113 passengers who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. Half of these original passengers died during their first winter in America. The friendly and helpful natives played a vital role in the ultimate success of the Pilgrim colony.

The Society and its members take great pride in the accomplishments of the Pilgrims. The Pilgrim leaders were passionate, Bible-reading, praying Christians who were unafraid to voice their great faith in God. The leading Separatists, originally from Pilgrim Country in the United Kingdom, set the stage for religious freedom on the North American continent. Their goal was to worship God as they thought right, following God's Word and not the dictates of the established Church of England. There is a list of the names of the 26 male passengers and 3 female passengers, whose maiden name is known, who are currently known to have descendants.

In keeping with their religious tradition, one of the Society's general officers is the Elder General, who leads prayer at the beginning of meetings. William Brewster of Scrooby in North Nottinghamshire, who originated Thanksgiving, was the first Elder. The Society, however, offers membership to individuals of all faiths who prove a line of descent from at least one of the Mayflower passengers.

Before landing, the Mayflower passengers developed the first written declaration of self-government. That document, the Mayflower Compact, was a precursor of the Constitution of the United States. John Carver of Doncaster and William Bradford of Austerfield, both in South Yorkshire in Pilgrim Country, were the two first Governors of the Plimoth Colony. They led the development of government in the United States.

There are Mayflower societies in all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada, and have members living in many other countries. There are also a number of societies for the descendents of specific Pilgrims.

The Pilgrim Fathers UK Origins Society would welcome contact with these organisations and any member who is living in the United Kingdom.

Plymouth is the second oldest permanent English settlement on the American east coast. The first was Jamestown in Virginia which was settled by the Virginia Company in May 1607.