Family History and Genealogy Resources by Surname
Taylor Surname Origin
A name of trade. We find this name modified to Tayleure, the orthography having been changed by the bearers to hide what they thought the lowness of its origin. So Smith is changed to Smyth, Turner to Turnour, etc.--as Camden says, 'Mollified ridiculously lest their bearers should seem villified by them.' A Mr. Taylor, who, from this false pride, had changed his name to Tayleure, once haughtily demanding of a farmer the name of his dog, the man replied, 'Why, sir, his proper name is Jowler, but since he's a consequential kind of puppy, we calls him Jouleure!'
Source: An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.
Taylor Surname Meaning and Family Facts
Taylor Last Name Meaning
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A Taylor Family History Thought:
'I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me, those who were to come. I looked back and
saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers, and in front, to see my son, and his son, and the
sons upon sons beyond.
And their eyes were my eyes.
As I felt, so they had felt, and were to feel, as then, so now, as tomorrow and forever.
Then I was not afraid, for I was in a long line that had no beginning, and no end, and the hand of
his father grasped my father's hand, and his hand was in mine, and my unborn son took my right
hand, and all, up and down the line that stretched from Time That Was, to Time That Is, and Is Not
Yet, raised their hands to show the link, and we found that we were one...' --Richard Llewellyn in How Green Was My Valley