Show ContentsNaylor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Naylor family migrated to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Naylor is for a maker of nails having derived from the Old English word nayl.

Early Origins of the Naylor family

The surname Naylor was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat from very early times. There is an early record of Stephen le Nailere in 1231 in the Patent Rolls of London.

Early History of the Naylor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Naylor research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1616, 1660, 1822 and 1831 are included under the topic Early Naylor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Naylor Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Naylor family name include Naylor, Naylour, Nayler and others.

Early Notables of the Naylor family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • James Nayler (or Naylor) (1616-1660), an English Quaker leader, one of the members of the Valiant Sixty

Naylor Ranking

In the United States, the name Naylor is the 2,004th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Naylor is ranked the 435th most popular surname with an estimated 14,757 people with that name. 2


Naylor migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Naylor family to immigrate North America:

Naylor Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Naylor, who settled in Virginia in 1623
  • Edward Naylor, who settled in Boston in 1630
  • William Naylor, who landed in Virginia in 1639 3
  • Tho Naylor, who landed in Virginia in 1642 3
  • John Naylor, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Naylor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Susannah Naylor, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 3
Naylor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • C Naylor, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 3
  • Thomas Naylor, who arrived in Texas in 1850-1906 3
  • Jonathon, William and Peter Naylor, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
  • Mrs. Dinah Naylor, aged 51, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Miss Ellen Naylor, aged 13, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Naylor migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Naylor Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. William Naylor U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 4
Naylor Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Bridget Naylor, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Progress" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 5
  • Mr. Michael Naylor, aged 28 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Saguenay" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 5
  • Mr. Patrick Naylor, aged 18 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Rose" departing 19th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 1st July 1847 but he died on board 6

Naylor migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Naylor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Richard Naylor, (b. 1797), aged 25, English shoe maker who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1824 7
  • Mr. John Naylor, English convict who was convicted in Ripon, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • Mr. James Naylor, English convict who was convicted in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 9th Mary 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 9
  • John Naylor, aged 25, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 10
  • Mr. Abraham Naylor who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for life, transported aboard the "Clara" on 19th March 1857, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 11

Naylor 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:

Naylor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Naylor, British settler travelling from London via Cobh aboard the ship "Sir George Pollock" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th September 1859 12
  • Samuel Naylor, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Morning Star" in 1861
  • Letitia Naylor, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Morning Star" in 1861
  • George Naylor, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Morning Star" in 1861
  • William Naylor a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Romulus" in 1862
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Naylor (post 1700) +

  • Gloria Naylor (1950-2016), American novelist, best known for her book The Women of Brewster Place, winner of the 1983 National Book Award
  • Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (b. 1933), American author, best known for her children and young adult fiction books, best known for her trilogy Shiloh (1992) which won a NewBerry Award
  • Kathleen Marie Naylor (b. 1953), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 2004 13
  • Joseph R. Naylor, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Wellsburg, West Virginia, 1887; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Ohio County, 1905-08 13
  • John M. Naylor, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for supervisor of Ann Arbor Township, Michigan, 1932 13
  • Isaac Naylor, American politician, Mayor of Dallas, Texas, 1858 13
  • Henry Naylor, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 13th District, 1936; Socialist Labor Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 2nd District, 1938 13
  • Charles Naylor (1806-1872), American politician, Representative from Pennsylvania 3rd District, 1837-41 13
  • Bob Naylor, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2008 13
  • Bob Naylor, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2008 13
  • ... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Ronald Naylor (b. 1920), English Engine Room Artificer 4th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 14
  • Mr. Rodney J Naylor (b. 1901), Irish Chief Petty Officer Cook (O) serving for the Royal Navy from Galway, Ireland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 14
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. John J Naylor, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 15
USS Arizona
  • Mr. J D Naylor, American Signalman Second Class from Louisiana, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16
Winter Quarters coal mine
  • Mr. James Naylor, Welsh mine worker who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he survived after being thrown 200 feet 17


Suggested Readings for the name Naylor +

  • Pacific Nothwest Grandfathers: Family Lines, Crosby, Martin, Naylor, et al by Alverta Brown Martin.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  3. 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)
  4. 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
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 49)
  6. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 91)
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  10. South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Flora 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/flora1855.shtml
  11. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 11th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clara
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  15. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  16. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
  17. Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html


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