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

Taylor, 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 Taylor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Taylor in America

Taylor is the 17th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Taylor surname appeared 751,209 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 255 people would have the surname Taylor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Taylor 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 Taylor

The surname Taylor originated in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "tailleur," meaning "tailor" or "cutter." The name was initially given to those who worked as tailors, dressmakers, or cloth cutters.

The earliest known record of the Taylor surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tallior." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a survey of landowners and their properties in England.

In the 12th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Taylour, Taillour, and Taillur. These variations reflect the different spellings used during that time period. The name was also closely associated with specific locations, such as Taylor's Green in Essex and Taylor's Hill in Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Taylor surname was William le Taylur, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1275. Another notable figure was John Taylor, a prominent English theologian and reformer who lived from 1480 to 1554 and was known as the "Apostle of Repentance."

In the 16th century, the Taylor surname gained further prominence with the rise of the cloth trade in England. Individuals like John Taylor (1555-1616), a renowned English poet and writer, and Thomas Taylor (1576-1633), an English clergyman and translator, carried the name during this period.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable Taylors, including Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Down and Connor, and John Taylor (1580-1653), a celebrated English poet and satirist known as the "Water Poet."

In the 18th century, the Taylor surname continued to be associated with various professions and fields. Edward Taylor (1642-1729) was an American poet and Puritan minister, while John Taylor (1703-1772) was an English classical scholar and prominent figure in the early days of British nonconformity.

Throughout history, the Taylor surname has been carried by numerous individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various regions and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Taylor

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

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 Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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