Welcome to the Taylor Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Taylor surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Taylor ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
Completed by on
The Taylor Family Tree
It is quite possible that someone else has already performed work on a Taylor family tree, so be sure to examine some of the sources listed below carefully. Have you struck a Taylor brick wall? Read "Schools Records Can Reveal A Lot About Ancestors" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Taylor Ancestors
Taylor Genealogy
Keep an open mind when searching through Taylor records. Years ago many people were unable to read and write, thus a given ancestor's name could be spelled in a variety of ways depending on who recorded it. If you want to know How can city directories be used to help my Taylor research?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Taylor
Historical newspapers give us the ability to discover ancestral history through eyewitness accounts.
There are currently matching Taylor records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Taylor family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Taylor Surname
There are no clear, concise answers to why or how one of your Taylor ancestors took on the surname. It may have been based on their occupation or a distinguising physical trait. Were you aware that Taylor is considered a very common surname, which offers its own set of challenges? The article "Researching Common Names" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Taylor DNA Projects
While DNA testing cannot conclusively tell you if two Taylor ancestors were related, it can easily prove if they weren't. Be sure you understand what types of research issues each different DNA test can address before you spend any money. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Taylor research, read "When do you use DNA?".
Taylor Family History
For most people, just about every aspect of their life has been influenced in some way by their ancestors. Look beyond the names and dates to understand how and why your Taylor ancestors lived and strived to make a better life for their descendants. Our team of seasoned experts are here to help you learn about different aspects of genealogy. Reading "Learning About Women - The Invisible Ancestors" may help you think of some different tactics to compiling your Taylor family history.
Photo Collections
Networking with Taylor Researchers
When it comes families and genealogy research, it's important to remember that different people may have different information: some may even have inherited one-of-a-kind family documents or photos, and the best way to connect with these family members is by posting a message board query -- often in the process of collaboration, you can build a more complete picture of your ancestor or ancestral family. The article "The Art of Posting Queries" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Taylor queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Taylor ancestors.
Taylor Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Taylor was the 10th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Taylor Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Taylor, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Recently Discovered TAYLOR Clippings and Mentions
Upcoming Taylor Family Reunions
Pedigree charts and family group records are important genealogical tools, so bringing or creating on site a big family pedigree (or family tree) is sure to draw attention; at the same time, have plenty of blank family group sheets available for individual families to complete and submit to go into a "Taylor family record book," which you can then digitize and share -- you can then bring the physical book back to the next reunion, adding new families each time. The article "A Great Way to Unite a Newly-Found Family" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Taylor reunion.
See Also
Surname Finder, The Taylor Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.