Show ContentsTaylor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Taylor Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Taylor

What does the name Taylor mean?

During the Middle Ages, the surname of Taylor was used in Scotland. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in Scotland, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Taylor family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Taylor was an occupational name for a tailor. Interestingly, the name Taylor was originally derived from the Anglo Norman French word taillour, meaning tailor. 1

Early Origins of the Taylor family

The surname Taylor was first found in many places throughout Scotland. Some of the early records include: Alexander le Tayllur who was valet of Alexander in 1276; John le Taillur who was held the mill of Selkirk as firmar in 1292; and Brice le Taillur who was one of the Scottish prisoners taken at the capture of Dunbar Castle in 1296. The last entry's year is of great significance to the surname and indeed to much of Scotland; for it was that year that King Edward I invaded Scotland and insisted that the native Scots pay homage to him.

Six persons of this name in the counties of Roxburgh, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Lanark, and Angus all rendered homage, 1296. 2 They held lands in Forfar, Cesseworth, Cunningham, Lanark, and Stirling in Scotland.

Early History of the Taylor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Taylor research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1292, 1376, 1645, 1729, 1779, 1784, 1850, 1890 and 1920 are included under the topic Early Taylor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Taylor Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Taylor, Taylour, Taylur, Tailler, Taillefer and many more.

Early Notables of the Taylor family

  • Edward Taylor (1645-1729), who was hailed as the finest American poet of the 17th century upon the publication of his work in 1920, Sir Hubert Taylor, aid-de-camp to the King in 1779, George Taylor of...

Taylor World Ranking

the United States, the name Taylor is the 10th most popular surname with an estimated 773,457 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Taylor is ranked the 11st most popular surname with an estimated 71,525 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Taylor is the 697th popular surname. 5 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Taylor as 18th with 839 people. 6 France ranks Taylor as 6,320th with 1,000 - 1,500 people. 7 Australia ranks Taylor as 6th with 89,433 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Taylor as 5th with 8,048 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Taylor as 4th with 262,832 people. 10 South Africa ranks Taylor as 402nd with 17,769 people. 11

Migration of the Taylor family to Ireland

Some of the Taylor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Taylor migration to the United States +



Taylor Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Taylor, who emigrated Dumfries to Virginia in the 1600's
  • Richard Taylor, aged 50, who arrived in Jamestown, VA in 1608 aboard the ship "Mary & Margaret" 13
  • Mr. John Taylor, aged 34, who arrived in Virginia in 1610 aboard the ship "Swan" 14
  • Miss Rebecca Taylor, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Margaret & John" 14
  • Child Taylor, (no 1st name), who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, bound for Boston 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Taylor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Cath Taylor, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 15
  • Agnes Taylor, who was recorded in South Carolina in 1768
  • Michael Thomas Taylor, who arrived in Maryland in 1773
Taylor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Taylor, aged 27, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 15
  • Ann Taylor, who landed in America in 1804 15
  • James Taylor, Irish settler who arrived in New Jersey in 1811 aboard the ship "Protection"
  • Louisa Taylor, Irish settler who arrived in New Jersey in 1811 aboard the ship "Protection"
  • Archibald Taylor, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1812-1813 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Taylor migration to Canada +

Taylor Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Taylor U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 514 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 16
  • Miss. Catherine Taylor D.U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 610 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 16
  • Miss. Rebecca Taylor D.U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 611 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 16
  • Mr. Matthew Taylor U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1785 was a Ship-Carpenter 16
  • Mr. Abel Taylor U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Taylor Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Taylor, aged 46, a labourer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • Margaret Taylor, aged 44, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • Jean Taylor, aged 19, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • Margaret Taylor, aged 17, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • William Taylor, aged 11, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Taylor migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. John Taylor, British settler convicted at Norfolk, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 12
  • Mr. Joseph Taylor, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
  • Miss Sarah Taylor, (1767 - 1813), aged 21, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
Second Fleet
  • Mr. John Taylor, British settler convicted in London, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Mr. Ann Taylor, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to Life for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Miss Jane Taylor, British settler convicted in Nottinghamshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Mr. James Taylor, British settler convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Mr. John Taylor, British settler convicted in London, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Joshua Taylor, (b. 1767), aged 20, English labourer convicted in Manchester, England on 14th October 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 13
  • Mr. Henry Taylor, (b. 1754), aged 33, English settler convicted in London on 14th January 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Friendship" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 13
  • Miss Sarah Taylor, (b. 1755), aged 32, English settler convicted in Kingston upon Thames, London on 2nd April 1787, sentenced for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 13
  • Mr. Robert Taylor, British seaman on the support ship for the First Fleet the "Borrowdal" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788
  • Mr. William Taylor, British seaman on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMAT Supply" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Taylor Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Taylor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Taylor migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Taylor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Andrew Taylor, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1833 21
  • W Taylor, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • H Taylor, who landed in Thames, New Zealand in 1839
  • Henry Taylor, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1839 aboard the ship Success
  • Sam Taylor, who landed in Otaki, New Zealand in 1839
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Taylor migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22
Taylor Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Anthony Taylor, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 23
  • Mr. William Taylor, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 23
  • Abigail Taylor, aged 24, who landed in Barbados in 1683 15
  • Abraham Taylor, aged 20, who arrived in Barbados in 1684 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Taylor (post 1700) +

  • George W. Taylor (1901-1972), American professor of industrial relations at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • James Vernon Taylor (b. 1948), American six-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and guitarist, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015
  • Richard E Taylor (1929-2018), Canadian scientist who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1990
  • Spencer Taylor Jr. (1928-2025), American gospel singer, member for the group The Highway Q.C.'s joining in 1956
  • Lionel Thomas Taylor (1935-2025), American football player and coach, played professionally as a wide receiver, primarily with the Denver Broncos of American Football League
  • Oliver Harold Taylor (1947-2025), American former professional basketball player in the ABA, 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) guard/forward, played college basketball for the Houston Cougars (1968-1970)
  • Edwin Floriman Taylor (1931-2025), American physicist known for his contributions to the teaching of physics, editor of the American Journal of Physics
  • Jerome Cogburn Taylor (b. 1963), American environmental activist, policy analyst, and game designer
  • Larry L. Taylor (1942-2024), American Army officer and helicopter pilot who was awarded the Medal of Honor on 5 September 2023
  • ... (Another 137 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Douglas Clement Frank Taylor (1923-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 24
  • James Taylor (1903-1943), Australian Staff Sergeant who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Albert J. Taylor, Australian Corporal who survived when the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Eric G. W. Taylor, Australian Private who survived when the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Mr. Walter Taylor (d. 1914), British Carpenter’s Mate from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 25
  • ... (Another 106 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Taylor +

  • The Forebearers and Descendants of William Taylor and Mahala Cromwell by Carrie Cathern Carte.
  • From Log Cabins to the White House: A History of the Taylor Family by Mary Taylor Brewer.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  12. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  13. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  14. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  15. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  16. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  23. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  24. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  25. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html

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