Taylor Clan History

The surname Taylor, also seen as Tayler and Tayleur, is of an occupational origin, coming from the word ‘tailor’, meaning a cutter of cloth. The word ‘tailor’ has roots in old French, from the word tailler meaning ‘to cut’. In Latin documents the surname is often recorded as cissor. It is a very common name, particularly in the early Scots records.

In 1276, Alexander la Tayllur was a valet to King Alexander III, and in 1292, John le Taillur was recorded as having held the mill of Selkirk.

One of the Scottish prisoners captured at Dunbar Castle in 1296 was a Brice le Taillur.

Adam le Taillur of Roxburgh, William le Taillur of Dunfries, William le Taillur of Edinburgh, Adam le Taillur of Lanark, and William le Taillour and David le Taillur, both of Forfar in Angus, all pledged their allegiance to England’s Edward I by signing the Ragman Roll in 1296.

Balgirdane, in the barony of Buittle, had a John Cissor as a recorded tenant, an Adam Cissor was a tenant in the barony of Newlands, and an Andrew Cissor was tenant in the village of Preston, all recorded in 1376.

Johannes Cissor was excommunicated in 1384 from the parish pf Fyvy.

In 1392, William Scissor was in the records as having held a tenement in Edinburgh, and David II granted Walter Cissor half the land of Glorat. In Inverness, both Donald Scissor and Bricius Scissor were recorded as witnesses in 1462, and in Perth, in 1463, Arthur Scissor is mentioned in the same year as an Arthur Tailzoure. A grave slab found in Dundee has “hic iacet Joannes filivs Philippi Cissoris,” engraved on it, along with a pair of scissors and a bodkin (a long, thick needle). In the traditons of the Cameron family, the Taillear dubh na tuaighe (Black tailor of the battle-axe) is a semi-legendary figure. Other variations of the surname Taylor recorded over the years include: Tailer, Tailleur, Taillor, Tailliour, Tailliovr, Taillur, Taillyer, Taillyeor, Taillzier, Tailyeour, Tailzieor, Talyeor, Talyhour, Talyowr, Talzeor, Talzeour, Talzior, Talzour, Talzoure, Tayliour, Tayllur, Taylyhour, Taylyour, Taylowre, Taylzowr, Telyour, Thailzor, Thalzeour, and Tyllour.