Taylor (English)
Where does "Taylor" come from?
The name Taylor originated as an occupational surname for someone who made clothing, derived from the Middle English 'tailor.' The word itself stems from the Anglo-Norman 'taillour,' rooted in the Latin 'taliare,' meaning 'to cut.' Over time, this professional title evolved into the popular English and Scottish surname we use today, which has since been adopted as a widely used unisex given name.
Full etymology tree
- Taylor (English), 'An English and Scottish surname originating as an occupation; variant form Tailor.'
- derived tailor (English), 'A person who makes, repairs, or alters clothes professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.'
- inherited taillour (Middle English), 'tailor'
- borrowed taillour (Anglo-Norman)
- inherited tailleor (Old French)
- deverbal taillier (Old French), 'to cut'
- inherited tāliō (Latin), 'punishment equal to the injury sustained; retaliation'
- derived tālea (Latin), 'A long or slender piece of wood or metal; rod, stick, stake, bar.'
- inherited tāliō (Latin), 'punishment equal to the injury sustained; retaliation'
- deverbal taillier (Old French), 'to cut'
- inherited tailleor (Old French)
- borrowed taillour (Anglo-Norman)
- inherited taillour (Middle English), 'tailor'
- derived tailor (English), 'A person who makes, repairs, or alters clothes professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.'
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris