Tail History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The distinguished surname Tail is one of the many names that came to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is derived from the Old French "tailleor" or "tailleur," meaning "a tailor." 1

Early Origins of the Tail family

The surname Tail was first found in Sussex, and in Kent where there is record in the "Archaeologia Cantiana" of Walter Taylur in circa 1180. William le Taillur was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1182, and John le talliur is listed in the Assize Rolls of London in 1202. 2

"William Tallator had a grant at Southampton; and also in Kent from King John. The family then became seated in Kent and Sussex. in 1307 Henry le Taillur was of Sussex and in 1324 William Taylor was M.P. from Bramber, as was Richard Taylor in 1379." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Henry Taliur in Norfolk; Cecil le Tayllour in Cambridgeshire; Roger le Taylur in Lincolnshire; and Richard le Taylor in Northumberland. 4

Early History of the Tail family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tail research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1601, 1602, 1613, 1620, 1621, 1629, 1641, 1645, 1649, 1661, 1667, 1699, 1729, 1779, 1890 and 1920 are included under the topic Early Tail History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tail Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Tail are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Tail include Taylor, Taylour, Taylur, Tailler, Taillefer and many more.

Early Notables of the Tail family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Taylor (1645-1729), who was hailed as the finest American poet of the 17th century upon the publication of his work in 1920; Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) English cleric in the Church of England; Richard Taylor (died 1641), an English lawyer and politician who sat in...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tail Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tail family to Ireland

Some of the Tail family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tail migration to Australia +

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

Tail Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Margaret Tail, aged 28, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 5
Martha Tail, aged 31, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Charlotte Jane" 6
William Tail, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Melbourne"

Tail 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:

Tail Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Tail, aged 43, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Joan S. Tail, aged 10, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Catherine Tail, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Margaret J. Tail, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Robert Tail, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PALMYRA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Palmyra.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHARLOTTE JANE 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/charlottejane1852.shtml