Tallett Family History

Probably in most cases from Middle English tail(l)ard ‘creature with a tail’ i.e. ‘monkey’, a common term of abuse. It is the English equivalent of Norman French Marmion. The change from Tayllard to Tallard and Tallet(t) or Tallot(t) is not well recorded though possibly instanced in Thomas Tallard 1661 and Charles Tallet 1784 in IGI (Saint Botolph without Aldgate London).

In some cases Tayllard and Tallard may have been absorbed into Taylor. Compare James Taylor 1707 in IGI (Overbury Worcs) with the 1744 bearer below.

Perhaps for a swordsman from Old French taillard, a sword for cutting and thrusting, especially in fencing. Possibly from an unrecorded Old French personal name *Talot *Talet, a diminutive form of Continental Germanic *Talo (related to *dal- ‘bright proud’).

Compare Tallon. However, no evidence has been found that the name given below has survived into modern times.