Taylor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the Middle Ages, the surname of Taylor was used in Scotland. While the patronymicand 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, occupationalsurnames 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, andAngus 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.

Taylor Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Taylor family (pre 1700)

Notable among 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.

Taylor World Ranking

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

 Taylor migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

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” [12]
• Mr. John Taylor, aged 34, who arrived in Virginia in 1610 aboard the ship “Swan” [13]
• Miss Rebecca Taylor, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship “Margaret & John” [13]
• 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 [13]

Taylor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Cath Taylor, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [14]
• 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 [14]
• Ann Taylor, who landed in America in 1804 [14]
• David Taylor, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1812 [14]
• Archibald Taylor, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1812-1813 [14]
• Alexander Taylor, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1812 [14]

 Taylor migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

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 [15]
• 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 [15]
• 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 [15]
• Mr. Matthew Taylor U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1785 was a Ship-Carpenter [15]
• Mr. John Taylor U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1785 [15]

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

 Taylor migration to Australia+

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

Taylor Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. John Taylor, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[16]
• Mr. Thomas Taylor, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [16]
• Miss Ann Taylor, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years , transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
• Miss Mary Taylor, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]

Taylor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Betty Taylor, British Convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
• Miss Elizabeth Taylor, (b. 1780), aged 20, British Convict who was convicted in Lincolnshire (Parts of Lindsey), England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1830 [18]
• Mr. James Taylor, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, Englandfor 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
• Mr. Benjamin Taylor, British Convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for life, transported aboard the “Coromandel” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]
• Miss Elizabeth Taylor, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Experiment” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]

 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 [20]
• 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

 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. [21]

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 [22]
• Mr. William Taylor, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship “Anne and Elizabeth” arriving in Barbados in 1635 [22]
• Abigail Taylor, aged 24, who landed in Barbados in 1683 [14]
• Abraham Taylor, aged 20, who arrived in Barbados in 1684 [14]

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
• Felicia Rodrica Sturt Taylor (1964-2023), American anchor-correspondent who worked for CNN International’s World Business Today, co-host of Retirement Living TV’s Daily Cafe until November 2009
• Teresa Taylor (1962-2023), also known as Teresa Nervosa, an American musician and actress
• Casper R. Taylor Jr. (1934-2023), American politician, 105th Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994 to 2003
• Otis Taylor (1942-2023), American AFL and NFL football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs (1965-1975)
• John Paul Taylor (1920-2023), American politician, Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1987 to 2005
• Jack Taylor (1928-2023), American broadcaster who was the host of The Jack Taylor Show on 1220 WKRS Radio in the Chicago area
• Creed Taylor (1929-2022), American record producer, best known for his work with CTI Records