Surname Tay - Meaning and Origin

Tay: What does the surname Tay mean?

The surname TAY is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Old English word "tohhe", meaning "wood". It's said that the Taylor family were originally a clan of wood carvers residing in Scotland. In Scotland, the Tay is a river that flows out of the Grampian Mountains and runs through Perthshire and Angus.

The Tay was an important river for trade and transportation in Scotland, as well as being a source of energy used for their small-scale mills. It was not uncommon for the Taylor family to not only own mills along the Tay, but also own land adjacent to the river.

The surname Taylor was often used to indicate a family that owned a business in the woodworking industry. Many people with the Taylor surname were wood-workers, carpenters, or joiners.

The name Tay is also a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Tiathal", or "chief's son". Irish Taylor's were usually descendants of a powerful family.

Finally, the Tay surname is also a widely known Chinese surname, derived from the Chinese words "tai" (great) and "liu" (auspicious).

In conclusion, the Taylor surname has a long and distinguished history. It is believed to be a combination of various ethnic origins, including Scottish, Irish, and Chinese. As a result, Taylor is a surname that is both meaningful and unique.

Tay: Where does the name Tay come from?

The surname TAY is most commonly found in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in places such as China, South Korea, and Vietnam. It is also found in the island nations of Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.

The origin of the TAY surname is unclear, though it is believed to be derived from Chinese characters meaning "river" or "sun". In some cases, it may also derive from Hokkien, a dialect of Chinese, pronounced “Tee" or “Tay.”

In China, the TAY surname is relatively uncommon outside of certain regions, as there are many Chinese surnames that have a similar sound and meaning. In South Korea, the name is particularly prevalent in the Gyeongsang area, which encompasses the town of Daegu and surrounds its namesake Daegu River. In Japan, the name appears to have been brought over from China in the late 19th century by immigrants from the region, often marrying into local Japanese families in the area. In Taiwan, the name is found across the region, particularly in the city of Kaohsiung.

TAY is an uncommon but not rare surname today, occurring most often in the countries listed above. It is also quite possible for the surname to appear outside of these regions in countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Tay

The surname TAY has several variant spellings and related surnames of the same origin.

TAY itself is an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Tadhg, derived from the personal name Tadhg, an old Irish masculine name meaning ‘poet’ or ‘philosopher’. The various spellings of the surname are: Taig, Tadhg, O’Tay, Teague, Teig, Teigue, Teagy, Tighe, Touhey and Tohy. It is also possible for the surname to be spelled as Taye, Tair and Tai in certain parts of the world.

Variants of the original Irish spelling are also found in Scotland, as the surname is thought to have originated in Ireland before spreading to Scotland. Variants include: MacTaidhg, MacTay, MacTeague, MacTighe, MacTigue and MacTohy.

Surnames which are similar, unrelated but have an identical pronunciation are also known to occur in Ireland. These include Taoiseach (the Irish Prime minister), O’Tuathaigh (coastal dweller) and McGoey (son of Hugh).

The surname TAY may also be of English origin, as there were TAY settlers in England who are thought to have arrived in the 13th century. Derived from an old English word meaning ‘scholar’, variants of the English surname include Tay, Tey and Teige.

It is impossible to trace the exact origin of the surname TAY, but its variant spellings and related surnames provide clues as to its possible origin.

Famous people with the name Tay

• Taylor Swift: known as one of the most popular contemporary female recording artists and songwriters, Taylor Swift is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter whose narrative songs about her life experiences have received both critical and commercial success.
• Tay Anderson: Tay Anderson is a Black American activist, school board member, and politician in Colorado. With a focus on racial justice, Taylor has worked on numerous activists campaigns and addressed a wide-range of issues with youth in Denver's inner-city neighborhoods.
• Andy Taylor: Andy Taylor is a British rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. Best know for being the guitarist and backing vocalist for the band Duran Duran, Andy Taylor's career has spanned over 30 years with numerous successful albums and singles.
• Ray Tayeh: Ray Tayeh is an American producer, songwriter, and arranger. An expert in urban music, R&B, and pop genres, Ray Tayeh is best known for his work with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Ne-Yo, Justin Timberlake, and Rihanna.
• Tay Yates: Tay Yates is an American model and entrepreneur. Best known for her appearances on reality television shows, including Fox’s “Coupled” and Oxygen’s “Bad Girls Club”, Tay Yates is also well known in the business world for her philanthropic organizations and charity work.
• Zacky Taylor: Zacky Taylor is an American rapper and musician. Associated with the hip hop scene of Los Angeles, Zacky Taylor is best known for his collaborations with other rap and rap-rock artists, as well as for his solo work that has earned him a devout fan base.
• JT Taylor: JT Taylor is an American singer and songwriter. Best known for his roles as the lead vocalist of the popular funk band, Kool & the Gang, JT Taylor has also enjoyed success as a solo artist with a variety of R&B and jazz albums and singles.

Other surnames

TayelorTaylanTaylerTayloTayloeTaylorTaylurTaynerTayteTayyTayyar