Taylor (English)
Where does "Taylor" come from?
The surname and given name 'Taylor' derives directly from the occupational term 'tailor'[1]. The English noun developed from Middle English 'taillour', which was borrowed from Anglo-Norman 'taillour' and Old French 'tailleor'[2]. These French forms trace back to the verb 'taillier', descending through Late Latin 'tāliō' from Latin 'tālea', meaning 'a cutting'[2].
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 (Old French), 'tailor (one who creates or alters clothing)'
- derived tailleor (Old French)
- derived taillier (Old French), 'to cut'
- inherited talio (Latin), 'to cut'
- derived talea (Latin), 'A long or slender piece of wood or metal; rod, stick, stake, bar.'
- inherited talio (Latin), 'to cut'
- derived taillier (Old French), 'to cut'
- derived tailleor (Old French)
- borrowed taillour (Old French), 'tailor (one who creates or alters clothing)'
- inherited taillour (Middle English), 'tailor'
- derived tailor (English), 'A person who makes, repairs, or alters clothes professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.'
Descendants and derived words
- Taylor expansion (English)
- Taylor polynomial (English)
- Taylor series (English)
Sources
Updated October 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris