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Taylor

TAY-luh
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Taylor (name) means a common English and Scottish surname, originally an occupational name for someone who made or altered clothes (a tailor). Example: “The Taylor family has run a clothing shop in the village for three generations.”

name
1
A common English and Scottish surname, originally an occupational name for someone who made or altered clothes (a tailor).
"The Taylor family has run a clothing shop in the village for three generations."
2
A unisex given name derived from the surname.
""I wanted to call her Taylor, but my husband said no," Sweetie was telling one of the Christmas party guests. "Taylor means a tailor," I said. "It seems inauspicious. Like calling her Cobbler." "That's a kind of drink," said Nani." — Paul Theroux, Hotel Honolulu (2001)
"The highly anticipated all-American matchup between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe — marking the first US Open semifinals between two US men in nearly 20 years — will cost you quite a few Honey Deuces to attend." — Jordan Valinsky, Ticket prices for the all-American men’s matchup at the US Open are surging (2024)
"They named their daughter Taylor after her grandmother's maiden name."

How to use Taylor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA surname and first name that comes from the old trade of tailoring.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the surname Taylor with the everyday word tailor (someone who makes clothes) — they share the same origin but are spelled differently.

Easily confused with
tailor →
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Word forms

Plural
Taylors
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ family has run a clothing shop in the village for three generations.

Etymology

From the occupation "tailor" — someone who cuts and sews clothing — spelled with a y instead of an i.

Synonyms

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Tay Tailor Tayler

Related words

tea detail organize adapt modify tailor orient sew

Rhymes for Taylor

Baylor Naylor
See all rhymes for Taylor →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Taylor” mean?
The word “Taylor” means a common English and Scottish surname, originally an occupational name for someone who made or altered clothes (a tailor). In plain terms, a surname and first name that comes from the old trade of tailoring.
How do you pronounce “Taylor”?
“Taylor” is pronounced TAY-luh (/ˈteɪ.lɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Taylor” in a sentence?
Here is “Taylor” used in a sentence: “The Taylor family has run a clothing shop in the village for three generations.”
What part of speech is “Taylor”?
“Taylor” is a name.
Is “Taylor” a common word?
“Taylor” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Taylor” have?
“Taylor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a common English and Scottish surname, originally an occupational name for someone who made or altered clothes (a tailor).
What is the difference between Taylor and tailor?
They sound identical but differ in meaning and use. 'Tailor' is the common noun for a person who makes or alters clothing. 'Taylor' is the proper-noun spelling used as a surname or first name. The name actually derives from the occupation, so despite the different spellings the two words share a single origin.
Where does the surname Taylor come from?
Taylor is an occupational surname from medieval England and Scotland, given to someone who worked as a tailor — cutting and sewing garments for a living. It comes through the Old French 'tailleur,' from a Latin root meaning 'to cut.' Today it remains one of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world.

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tea detail organize adapt modify tailor orient sew