Taylor

Taylor is a surname and given name of English origin. It derives from the occupational term taillour or taillier, the medieval word for a tailor, from Old French taillour and taillier, based on tailler “to cut.” The modern spelling Taylor emerged through phonetic spelling and standardization, and the name has variants such as Tailor, Tayler, and Taylour.

As a given name, Taylor has become common in English-speaking countries since the late 20th century and is used for all genders. It is often adopted from the surname tradition or chosen for its contemporary sound.

Notable people with the surname include singer-songwriter James Taylor and actress Elizabeth Taylor. As a given name, famous bearers include Taylor Swift, an American singer who helped popularize the name in recent decades, and actor Taylor Kinney.

There are places named Taylor in the United States, including towns in Texas and Michigan. Taylor County exists in several states, reflecting the widespread use of the surname as a place name.

In other uses, Taylor refers to Brook Taylor, an 18th-century English mathematician after whom the Taylor series expansion is named, a central tool in calculus. In economics, the Taylor rule describes a guideline for setting short-term interest rates.