Surname Tillyer - Meaning and Origin

Tillyer: What does the surname Tillyer mean?

The last name Tillyer is of English origin. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English term “tiller” or “tilier,” which is a variant of Taylor. Taylor was a popular last name that derived from the Old French “tailleur” which was an occupation designation meaning “one who cuts cloth.” Thus, someone with the last name Tillyer would have likely been related to a family of tailors of cloth at some point in their distant past.

The middle English term “tiller” was also noted as an occupational designation for someone who worked with a sickle, a scythe-like implement used to harvest grain in olden days. Therefore, another explanation for the name Tillyer is that the family may have been descendants of someone who worked with a sickle in the past.

In modern times, the last name Tillyer still remains popular, but has shifted in meaning and become a surname used out of tradition or as an homage to a family’s past, rather than as a literal occupational designation. The Tillyer name can denote a sense of hard-working, steadfastness and valour, traits that have been passed down from the family’s past generations.

Tillyer: Where does the name Tillyer come from?

The last name Tillyer is most commonly found today in England and the United States. In England, the name is derived from Old French and is believed to have first appeared in Britain during the Norman conquest.

In the United States, Tillyer is an Americanized form of the German surname Tilliger, which derived from the given name Till.

The first known Tillyer in America was Johannes Tillier, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1738 and is believed to be the progenitor of a large extended family.

In the modern United States, Tillyer is most common in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Maryland.

Tillyer is also a common surname in Ireland, Australia, Canada, and other countries, although with less frequency than in England and the United States.

According to the ancestry.com data, the Tillyer surname is most prevalent in the United States, with an estimated 13,000 individuals in the US having the surname, including 9,000 in Pennsylvania, 2,500 in New York, and more than 1,000 in Ohio.

Overall, due to the English and German origins of the surname, the last name Tillyer is widely spread throughout the world, with a large number of individuals present in Western Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Tillyer

The surname Tillyer has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of a similar origin.

One variant is Tiller, which is also spelled Tilor, Tilar, Tillor, Tillo, or Tillar. This version originates from German, Middle English, and Old English sources and is derived from the word “tilor” meaning “plowman”.

Another variant of Tillyer is Tillier, which is also spelled Tilier, Tilliar, or Tyllier. This spelling is derived from German and Middle English sources and was an occupational name for a tiller of the soil.

A third variant, Tilley, is the most common spelling. It is derived from Middle English and has multiple possible origins, including a place name, a nickname, or an occupational name for a tile maker.

Yet another variant is Tailer, which is derived from German and Scandinavian sources and is an occupational name for a tailor.

Other surnames of a similar origin include: Thilen, Thillen, Thillier, Thilmant, Thimel, Thymel, Tyllock, and Tillinger.

Overall, the surname Tillyer has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of a similar origin. Each version has a unique origin, but all are derived from German, Middle English, Old English, and Scandinavian sources and have occupational origins related to the soil, tailoring, tile-making, and plowing.

Famous people with the name Tillyer

• Chris Tillyer: a Canadian architect and urban planner who has been a professor at the University of British Columbia since 1996.
• Paul Tillyer: a former British Paralympic athlete who competed in wheelchair racing.
• Robert Tillyer: a British painter and lecturer, well known for his English landscapes.
• John Tillyer: a World War II Royal Air Force ace.
• Herbert Tillyer: a British-born Australian sprinter and hurdler.
• Nicholas Tillyer: an English actor, composer, and musical director.
• Frank Tillyer: an English professional golfer from the late 19th and early 20th century.
• Ben Tillyer: an American professional firefighter and architect.
• Alison Tillyer: a British singer and songwriter who was popular in the 1970s.
• Andrew Tillyer: a British lawyer and businessman who has served as the director of several high-profile companies.

Other surnames

Tilly