- May 1 Ethel Jane Cain, British telephonist and original UK Speaking Clock voice, born in England (d. 1996)
- May 1 George Melachrino, English composer, born in London (d. 1965)
- May 1 Yiannis Ritsos, Greek poet and political activist, born in Monemvasia (d. 1990)
- May 4 Howard Da Silva [Silverblatt], American actor (1776, The Lost Weekend, The Blue Dahlia), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1986)
- May 4 Jeroom Verten [Jozef Frans Vermetten], Flemish playwright, born in Berchem, Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1958)
- May 5 Miklós Radnóti, Hungarian poet (Clouded Sky), born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary (d. 1944)
- May 6 Loyd Sigmon, American radio broadcaster, sound engineer, and inventor ("Sig Alert" for traffic and emergency notices), born in Stigler, Oklahoma (d. 2004)
Edwin Land (1909-1991)
May 7 American inventor of instant photography and co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation, born in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Maybelle Carter (1909-1978)
May 10 American country singer (Johnny Cash Show), born in Nickelsville, Virginia
- May 11 Herbert Murrill, British organist, composer (The Song of the Birds; Carillon), and educator (Royal Academy of Music, 1933-52), born in London, England (d. 1952)
- May 11 René Bousquet, French Vichy-police chief (deported Jews), born in Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne (d. 1993)
- May 12 Frank DeCaires, West Indian cricket batsman (3 Tests, 2 x 50; British Guiana), born in British Guiana (d. 1959)
- May 15 James Mason, British actor (Lolita, North by Northwest, Bloodline, Boys From Brazil), born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire (d. 1984)
- May 15 Rodolfo Cornejo, Filipino classical pianist, composer, and conductor, born in Manila, Philippines (d. 1991)
- May 16 Margaret Sullavan, American actress (Three Comrades, The Shop Around the Corner), born in Norfolk, Virginia (d. 1960)
- May 17 Edward Playfair, British senior civil servant, born in London (d. 1999)
- May 17 Karl Schäfer, Austrian figure skater (Olympic gold 1932, 36), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1976)
- May 17 Magda Schneider, German actress (Eva, Going Gay, Be Mine Tonight), born in Bavaria, German (d. 1996)
Fred Perry (1909-1995)
May 18 English tennis player/broadcaster (8 x Grand Slam singles, 6 x Grand Slam doubles titles; Davis Cup 1933, 34, 35, 36), born in Stockport, England
- May 19 Schlomo Joffe, Polish-Israeli folk and classical musician and composer, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1995)
- May 19 Sir Nicholas Winton, British humanitarian ('British Schindler' - saved 669 children from Nazis), born in London (d. 2015) [1] [2]
- May 21 François-Albert Angers, Quebec economist (d. 2003)
- May 21 Guy de Rothschild, French banker (Rothschild Frères), born in Paris, France (d. 2007)
- May 24 Guillermo Díaz-Plaja, Spanish literary and poet (Lorca), born in Manresa, Barcelona (d. 1984)
- May 24 Louis Fornberg, writer (d. 1957)
- May 24 Wilbur Mills, American congressmen (Democrat-AZ: 1939-77), famous for his involvement in a sex scandal with Fanne Foxe, born in Kensett, Arkansas (d. 1992)
- May 25 Alfred Kubel, German politician, born in Braunschweig, Germany (d. 1999)
- May 25 Marie Menken, American experimental filmmaker and socialite, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1970)
- May 26 Matt Busby, Scottish soccer forward (Manchester City, Liverpool) and manager (Manchester United 1945-69, 70–71; Scotland 1958), born in Orbiston, Bellshill, Scotland (d. 1994)
- May 26 Richard Maibaum, American screenwriter (Goldfinger), born in NYC, New York (d. 1991)
- May 27 Isador Goodman, South African-Australian pianist and composer (New Guinea Fantasy), born in Cape Town, South Africa (d. 1982)
- May 28 Red Horner, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Stanley Cup 1932 Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Lynden, Ontario (d. 2005)
- May 29 Neil R. Jones, American sci-fi author (Space War, Twin Worlds), born in Fulton, New York (d. 1988)
Benny Goodman (1909-1986)
May 30 American clarinetist and bandleader (King of Swing), born in Chicago, Illinois
George Headley (1909-1983)
May 30 West Indies cricket batsman (22 Tests; 2,190 runs @ 60.83; 10 x 100), born in Colón, Panama
- May 31 Sammy Spear, American big band trumpet player and orchestra leader (The Jackie Gleason Show), born in Brooklyn, NYC (d. 1975)
- May 31 Thor Thorvaldsen, Norwegian yachtsman (Olympic gold dragon class 1948, 52), born in Bamble, Norway (d. 1987)
About May 1909
How Old? 114 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: No