Find out how popular the last name Gaylor is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gaylor.

Gaylor, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gaylor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaylor in America

Gaylor is the 9609th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaylor surname appeared 3,382 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gaylor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaylor to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gaylor

The surname Gaylor is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, England. It is likely derived from the Old English words "gæl," meaning "jovial" or "merry," and "dor," meaning "valley" or "dell." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a merry or cheerful valley.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Gaylor can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire, compiled between 1273 and 1276, there is a mention of a person named William Gaylour. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a John Gaylour is listed. This document, which recorded taxes paid by residents, provides valuable insight into the distribution of surnames in the region during that period.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as Gaylord, Gaylard, and Gaylour. This was a common occurrence due to the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation before standardization became more widespread.

One notable figure from history with the surname Gaylor was Sir John Gaylor, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived from 1542 to 1612. He served as the Sheriff of London and was a member of the Parliament of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of note was Thomas Gaylor, a renowned English painter and engraver born in 1635. He is best known for his exquisite portraits and religious works, many of which can still be found in various galleries and museums across England.

In the 18th century, the surname Gaylor was associated with several clergymen and academics. One such figure was Reverend William Gaylor, who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, from 1723 to 1756.

Moving into the 19th century, there was a notable author and poet named Mary Gaylor, who was born in 1810 in Derbyshire, England. Her works, which often explored themes of nature and rural life, were widely acclaimed during her lifetime.

Lastly, in more recent history, there was a prominent English architect named Geoffrey Gaylor, born in 1892. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and other parts of England, including the renowned St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaylor

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gaylor.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gaylor was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gaylor has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gaylor was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gaylor, please contact us.

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