Surname Kaylor - Meaning and Origin
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Kaylor: What does the surname Kaylor mean?
The last name Kaylor has Germanic roots and primarily originates from the Franconia region of Germany. This name is derived from the Germanic name "Kuhlherr", meaning "lord of the cuckoo" and is related to "Kohler" and "Kolb".
This surname was first found in the early 13th century, emerging as a hereditary name of nobility in the Franconian region of Germany. Many of the earliest bearers of this surname would have been minor nobles. As a noble house, those who bore this surname often held many large estates and occupied influential positions in their community. It is also likely that the family's original seat was the castle of Kuhlherr, situated in what is now the Rhineland-Palatinate region.
Throughout time, those who beared this last name were able to gain powerful positions in society, and often acquired a great deal of wealth and land. The name also has an interesting link to music. It is believed that members of the Kaylor family played an influential role in the development of the early German American Folk Music. Renowned Folk music group leader, Joe Kaylor, was an early pioneer of the American Midwest style of Folk Music.
Overall, the last name Kaylor denotes a proud heritage and a long family history. It is an enduring name with a rich background, and has left its mark on history.
Order DNA origin analysisKaylor: Where does the name Kaylor come from?
The last name Kaylor is most commonly found in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 data, it is the 1,814th most common last name in the country and is most prevalent in California. Specifically, the highest concentrations of Kaylors live in the city of Los Angeles (CA), followed by San Diego (CA), Peoria (IL), Tucson (AZ), and San Antonio (TX).
The name Kaylor is of English derivation and is rooted in the Anglo-Saxon culture. It was first used during the Middle Ages, and the root of its origin is from the Old English word cēolweard, meaning a ‘guardian of the ship’s bridge’.
Outside of the U.S., the name Kaylor is most commonly found in Australia, and this is likely due to the country’s large Anglo-Saxon heritage. According to the 2016 census, it is the 8,821st most common last name in Australia, and the highest concentrations of Kaylors live in the cities of Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide.
The name Kaylor is also found in the United Kingdom, Canada, and small numbers in Germany. Overall, it has remained relatively consistent in its frequency and popularity since its origins in the Middle Ages.
Variations of the surname Kaylor
The surname Kaylor is a variant of the surname Caylor, which originates from the Latin root ‘calor’, meaning heat. This surname has spread throughout Anglo-Saxon culture and can also be found with similar spellings and variants.
One spelling of the name is ‘Kailor’ or ‘Kayler’, which is found in records in Germany, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States.
Other variants of the same surname are ‘Caylor’, ‘Kaylors’, ‘Kylor’, ‘Kaylor’, ‘Kailor’, ‘Kallor’, ‘Kollor’ and ‘Koller’.
Surnames which are related to Kaylor are ‘Keller’, ‘Kelley’, and ‘Kellar’, with all three deriving from the same Latin root as Kaylor, but with different spellings or suffixes.
The Scottish surname ‘Cowley’ is also a variant of Kaylor, with the ‘Cow’ spelling being an old English form of the Latin ‘calor’ root.
Finally, the surname ‘Callar’, which is found in some parts of Scotland and Ireland, is a variant of the Kaylor surname.
The surname Kaylor is extremely widespread, and is found in many areas of the world. Its many variants and spellings also carry the same meaning, as they all share the same Latin root.
Famous people with the name Kaylor
- Carson Kaylor: American professional wrestler who is currently signed to WWE’s NXT brand, performing on both its NXT and NXT UK shows
- Chris Kaylor: British professional boxer who won the Commonwealth lightweight title in 2013
- Josh Kaylor: American professional basketball player for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League
- Philip Kaylor: American television and film director whose credits include The Simpsons, Family Guy, and other popular animation and sitcoms
- Evan Kaylor: Olympic swimmer who represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio
- Bill Kaylor: Former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles
- Andrew Kaylor: Award-winning contemporary American violinist and electric violinist
- Carolyn Kaylor: Jazz vocalist and opera singer
- Emily Kaylor: American-Canadian actress who has appeared in film and television projects including Charmed, Supernatural and Smallville
- Tom Kaylor: Former NASA astronaut, engineer, and U.S. Navy Captain