NAYLOR
Naylor is a surname of English provenance, classified as an occupational name. Its earliest recorded bearer is Stephen le Nailere, whose name appears in the Calendar of the Patent Rolls of 1231 in London, during the reign of King Henry of England.
The etymology of Naylor traces back to the Middle English word nayler, meaning a person who makes or sells nails. This term derives itself from the Old English root naegel, pre‑7th‑century, with the agent suffix -er added to indicate a worker in the trade. Consequently, the surname denotes a specialised nail‑maker or blacksmith, a profession that was crucial to the construction industry of the medieval period.
In the 13th century, nail‑making constituted a distinct guild, alongside other crafts such as masonry, fletcherry and smithing. Distinctive surnames like Mason, Fletcher, Shepherd, Smith, Miller and Fuller likewise reflected specific trades. The Naylor name appears in several early records, including William Nayl of Berkshire in 1255, James le Nayler of Yorkshire in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, and John le Naylere of Northumberland in 1292.
Beyond England, the surname also migrated across the Atlantic. In 1622, Thomas Naylor was documented as a resident of Virginia, marking one of the earliest known emigrants bearing the name to the American colonies. Over centuries, the Naylor surname has remained a testament to the hereditary transmission of occupational identities in Britain.
Typical given names associated with the Naylor surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Angela
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Joanne
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Naylor in...
Braille
⠝⠁⠽⠇⠕⠗
Morse
-..--.--.-..---.-.
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Naylor are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Hobnob.
There are approximately 20,173 people named Naylor in the UK. That makes it the 425th most common surname in Britain. Around 310 in a million people in Britain are named Naylor.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Naylor
- Mya-Lecia Naylor - Brtitish actress, model, singer (2002 to 2019)
- Doug Naylor - Writer
- Lee Naylor - Football player
- Joss Naylor - Fell runner
- Tom Naylor - Football player
- Richard Naylor - Football player
- Stuart Naylor - Football player
- Terry Naylor - Football player
- Charles Legh Naylor - Composer (1869 to 1945)
- Edward Naylor - Musician (1867 to 1934)
- Andrew Naylor - Figure skater
- Dominic Naylor - Football player
- Tony Naylor - Football player
- Glenn Naylor - Football player
- Mark Naylor - Athlete
- Thomas Naylor - Politician (1868 to 1958)
- Robert Francis Brydges Naylor - (1889 to 1971)
- George Frederick Naylor - Composer and organist in England and New Zealand (1851 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.