- Taylor sept
Taylor is a sept ("branch") of
Clan Cameron , aScottish clan . Present day members of the Taylor sept hold the Scottish surname Taylor.ept namebearer
Members of the Taylor sept are descendents of
Donald Cameron ('Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe') , who lived in theScottish Highlands Lochaber area ("Cameron country") circa mid 16th century. 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. [cite web |url=http://aaahostmasters.net/clan_cameron.htm |title=Taylor Sept |publisher=aaa hostmasters.net |accessdate=2008-02-02] [cite web |url=http://www.theflyingscotsman.ca/claninfo.htm |title=Cameron of Lochiel |publisher=theflyingscotsman.ca |accessdate=2008-02-01] [cite web |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p19953.htm |title=Person Page - 19953 |publisher=thepeerage.com |accessdate=2008-02-01]As a young man, Donald became skilled in battle with the
Lochaber axe , 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 inCowal . There, descendents of his family and followers became known as "Mac-an-taillear" ("son of the tailor").cite web |url=http://www.clan-cameron.org/septs.html |title=Clan Cameron Septs |publisher=clan-cameron.org |accessdate=2008-02-01] [cite web |url=http://www.crouseroads.com/taylor/norigin.html |title=Scottish Taylors |publisher=crouserroads.com |accessdate=2008-02-01] [cite web |url=http://taylor-geneology.com/index.php/TDL/Chap2 |title=Surname and Country Origins |publisher=taylor-geneology.com |accessdate=2008-02-02]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)cite web |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/stoz/taylor2.html |title=Clan Taylor |publisher=electricscotland.com |accessdate=2008-02-01]
Coat of arms and tartan
The Taylor sept bears the Cameron Clan
coat of arms , 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 with double black lines, honoring "Taillear Dubh" ("Black Taylor").References
* Mackenzie, Alexander, Alexander Macgregor, and Alexander Macbain. " [http://books.google.com/books?id=G88GAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA526&lpg=PA526&dq=Stratheachaig&source=web&ots=lxT6a8-Ria&sig=ozg2zvwngP3x8XWQWMH-Ip0SbwE#PPA526,M1 The Celtic Magazine] ". Inverness: A. and W. Mackenzie, 1875.
ee also
*
Taylor (surname)
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