Origins of the clan The surname Tailyour is derived from the
French which means
to cut. In
Latin it is rendered as . In around 1137 Walter Cissor received a grant of land from
David I of Scotland. The historian George Fraser Black states that Taylor is a very common name in early Scots records. In 1276 Alexander le Taillur is listed as valet to
Alexander III of Scotland.
Wars of Scottish Independence In 1296 Bryce le Taillur was one of the Scottish prisoners at the capture of
Dunbar Castle. In the same year six people of this name appear on the
Ragman Rolls, rendering homage to
Edward I of England, from counties as far apart as
Angus and
Roxburgh.
15th, 16th 17th and 18th centuries In the Latin form of then name
Cissor, both Donald Cissor and Bricius Cissor were witnesses to a deed in
Inverness in 1462. In around 1552 Gillepatrick Tailzeour was sergeant of
Dornoch. The name is also found rendered as Macintaylor and in 1613 several Macintaylors were fined for sheltering outlawed members of the
Clan Gregor. James Taylor, born 1753 in
Lanarkshire is credited with the first practical application of steam power to vessels for inland navigation. The great paddle steamers which would later carry passengers and freight on the rivers of
North America were derived from Taylor's original work. ==Castles==