Taylor is a

sept A sept is a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family. The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as ''sliocht'', meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may indicate the descendants of a person ( ...

("branch") of

Clan Cameron Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The Chief ...

, a

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Goidelic languages, Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official ...

. Present day members of the Taylor sept hold the Scottish surname Taylor.

Sept namebearer

Some members of the Taylor sept are descendants of

Donald Cameron ('Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe') Donald Cameron (born c. 1550), known as Black Taylor of the Axe (Scottish Gaelic ''Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe'') was a famed warrior of the Scottish Highlands during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. Born illegitimate, his father was Ewen Camero ...

, who lived in the

Scottish Highlands The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Sco ...

Lochaber Lochaber ( ; gd, Loch Abar) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig, as they were before being reduced in extent by the creation ...

area ("Cameron country") circa mid 16th century. Others, with no documented connection to Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe or the Clan Cameron, are simply descended from those with an occupational surname meaning tailor. Though Donald's father was XIV Chief of Clan Cameron, Donald, born out of wedlock, could not inherit the title. Nursed by a tailor's wife, Donald received the nickname ''An Taillear Dubh'' (''an'', a diminutive; ''Taillear'', an occupational reference to the caretaker's husband; ''Dubh'', translated as "black" in the context of meaning "swarthy" or "dark tempered") as an infant. As a young man, Donald became skilled in battle with the

Lochaber axe The Lochaber axe ( Gaëlic: tuagh-chatha) is a type of poleaxe that was used almost exclusively in Scotland. It was usually mounted on a staff about five feet long. Specifics of the weapon The Lochaber axe is first recorded in 1501, as an "old ...

, and his nickname evolved to ''Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe'' ("Black Taylor of the Axe") because of his fighting prowess. Taylor and his family eventually found safety in

Cowal Cowal ( gd, Còmhghall) is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland, that extends into the Firth of Clyde. The northern part of the peninsula is covered by the Argyll Forest Park managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. The Arrochar ...

. There, descendants of his family and followers became known as ''Mac-an-taillear'' ("son of the tailor").

Later history

In the 18th century, ''MacInTaillear'', ''Macintaylor'', ''Taylor'', and ''Tayler'' families were still living on the Cowal peninsula. They referred to themselves as ''Clann an Taillear Dhuibh Chamronaich'' ("Children of the Black Taylor of the Camerons").(Mackenzie, 1875, pages 526-530)

Coat of arms and tartan

The Taylor sept bears the Cameron Clan

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...

, a depiction of a "wild man" with a Lochaber axe. Barring actual historical evidence, interpretations vary as to whether the depiction is the likeness of the Taylor sept patriarch, or if it denotes a character attribute and weapon of choice common amongst early Cameron. In 1955, Lt.Col. Iain B. Cameron Taylor designed the Taylor sept

tartan Tartan ( gd, breacan ) is a patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed, horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Sc ...

with double black lines, honoring ''Taillear Dubh'' ("Black Taylor").

References

* Mackenzie, Alexander, Alexander Macgregor, and Alexander Macbain.
The Celtic Magazine
'. Inverness: A. and W. Mackenzie, 1875. {{Scottish clans Scottish families Scottish clans History of the Scottish Highlands People from Lochaber

Sept namebearer

Later history

Coat of arms and tartan

See also

References