Surname Tiler - Meaning and Origin

Tiler: What does the surname Tiler mean?

The last name Tiler is of occupational origin, derived from the profession of a person who laid tiles, such as roof or floor tiles. This could have been a specific profession in the field of construction or architecture in the middle ages when surnames came into common use. The name might have been bestowed upon someone known for their skill in this occupation, to define their role in their community, or it was passed down to their descendants. Like many other surnames of occupational origins, 'Tiler' allows us to glimpse into the lifestyle, customs, and professional roles of our ancestors. Though the spelling may have changed over centuries, the name's occupational root remains unchanged, signifying someone who worked on buildings, enhancing their aesthetic beauty and functional aptitude via tile work.

Tiler: Where does the name Tiler come from?

The last name Tiler is found throughout the world. Popular localized areas are the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland.

In the United Kingdom, Tiler is descendant from Anglo-Saxon origins. The county of Yorkshire had the most occurrences of the name Tiler in the 1881 census.

In the United States, the name has been present since the late 1800s when immigrants of English, Irish, and German descent arrived. Since then, the name has spread across the country, with population clusters found along the east coast in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland.

In the 1840s, the Tiler family migrated to the east coast of Australia, settling along the Araluen and Nelligen Valley. The name is most prominent today in the state of New South Wales.

In Canada, the name Tiler is mostly found in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. It is likely descended from a Scottish settler who arrived to Canada in the 1700s.

In New Zealand, the last name Tiler is most frequently found in Auckland.

Finally, Tiler is also found in Ireland especially in counties such as Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford.

Variations of the surname Tiler

The surname Tiler can have many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some common variants of the surname include Tyller, Tyler, Tylor, Tajer, Tayler, Tileller, Tyllor, and Tilor.

The surname Tiler is of English and French origin. It was a medieval occupational name deriving from the term tiler or tilerman, which meant a roof tile maker or installer of roof tiles. The family lineage originated mainly in the agricultural townships of England.

The surname is believed to have first appeared during the Anglo-Saxon period of British history, with 'Tile' found in a Feudal document of 1275. It was derived from the Old English ‘Tiger’, meaning ‘tiler’.

In some cases, the surname Tiler may be related to the French or Old French surname Tailleur, which is derived from the Latin word ‘Taille’, meaning ‘to cut’. This French surname was given to a man who cut cloth or tailor-made clothing.

The spelling of the Tiler surname has changed over time due to variations in accents, dialects, and handwriting, with some spellings evolving over time. Alternate spellings and trimmed versions of the surname such as Til, Tilor, and Till are still encountered.

In some instances, individuals with this surname may have also adopted or used patronymic or locational surnames such as Tailer, Tilson, Tilman, Tuller, and Tiller. Surnames based on location may have referred to a place called Tiler’s Town or similar, or to the Bearer’s residence in the parish of Tiliers or other similar-sounding places.

Famous people with the name Tiler

• Lily-Rose Depp (full name Lily-Rose Melody Depp-Tiler): French-American actress and model
• Tiler Peck: Professional American ballet dancer and currently the principal dancer with the New York City Ballet
• Carol Tiler: American professional golfer who won twelve tournaments on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour in her career
• Joy Tiler: American professional squash player
• Chelle Tiler: Australian-born American former competitive figure skater
• Onward Tiler: Former professional basketball player
• Kayode Tiler: Nigerian qualified chartered accountant and banker
• Jacqueline Tiler: British professional dancer, actress and television personality
• John Tiler: English former professional footballer and manager
• Martin Tiler: English former footballer

Other surnames

Tilemann