Where did the taylors originate?

Question

Where did the taylors originate?

Answer 1

Taylor (\ta(y)-lor\) is a Middle English occupational surname of Old French origin, derived from the Norman French word taileur ("a cutter-out of cloth"). First historical evidence of the surname dates to County of Somerset in 1182. Its increasing popularity through the centuries is attributed to refugees from continental Europe with the equivalent surname (Russian/"Portnov", German/"Schneider", Hungarian/"Szabo") entering Britain, and switching to the English language translation "Taylor". According to the UK National Trust surname profiler, Taylor is the fifth most common surname in Great Britain. It is also common in other English speaking countries (especially Australia, Canada, and New Zealand), but has a low incidence in Ireland. Scottish namebearers in the Cowal region are historically associated with the Taylor sept, their surname evolving from the nickname Taillear Dubh ("black tailor"), to the surname Mac-an-taillear ("son of the tailor"), to present-day Taylor.

Taylor has been a common masculine given name since the 19th century, and common feminine given name since the late 1970s in English language countries.

Here's a link with more information about the surname Taylor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_(sur...

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Answer 2

Definition: An English occupational name for a tailor, from Old French "tailleur" for "tailor" which comes from the Latin "taliare," meaning "to cut." It is among the most commonly found surnames, due to its popularity as a medieval occupation.

Surname Origin: English

Alternate Surname Spellings: TAYLER, TAILOUR, TAYLOUR, TAILLEUR, TAILOR

The Taylors who are affiliated with Clan Cameron as a sept are said to be descended from Donald "Taillear dubh na tuaighe" (Black tailor of the [Lochaber] axe), who lived in the time of Mary Queen of Scots. He was the "natural son" of Ewen Cameron, 14th Chief of Clan Cameron and a daughter of the Chief of Clan MacDougall, out of wedlock. Ewen had Donald nursed by a tailor's wife at Lundavra; thus the name Taylor. After his father's death (Ewen died while a captive of the Chief of the MacDougalls, held prisoner until he agreed to marry the Chief's daughter), Donald would became the greatest warrior that Clan Cameron had even known. Acknowledgement of his parentage by his deceased father not being enough to ascend to the Chiefship, he excelled in the field of battle, usually against the Cameron's principal foes, the Clan Mackintosh and usually with his trusty Lochaber axe. In time he would flee rising Cameron-Mackintosh internal Clan treachery, with a band of loyal followers, to Cowal. The descendants of his followers there were for ages known as Mac an taillear; later as Taylor. A tribute to Donald remains in the Cameron Coat of Arms, where his likeness, along with a Lochaber axe, borders/protects the outer shield.