Tyler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Tyler

What does the name Tyler mean?

The ancestors of the Tyler family migrated to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Tyler is for a tiler. The name describes a person whose job it was to bake clay into tiles in an oven, a common occupation in medieval times.

Early Origins of the Tyler family

The surname Tyler was first found in Glamorgan, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire where they were granted large estates after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One of the more interesting entries for the name was Walter or Wat Tyler, Tegheler (d. 1381), and English "rebel, had no real surname, all the above designations referring to his trade, which was that of covering roofs with tiles. There were several others of his calling among the ringleaders of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, one, it is said, of the same Christian name, and some confusion has resulted. He is usually credited, for instance, with having given the signal for the rising in Kent by killing a collector of the poll-tax who insulted his daughter. " 1

Early History of the Tyler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tyler research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1341 and 1381 are included under the topic Early Tyler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tyler Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Tyler family name include Tyler, Tilliere, Tylor, Tiler, Tellier and others.

Early Notables of the Tyler family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Walter Tyler (1341-1381), leader of the Peasant's Revolt in 1381

Tyler World Ranking

In the United States, the name Tyler is the 415^th most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Tyler is ranked the 806^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,869 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Tyler is the 829^th popular surname with an estimated 879 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Tyler as 504^th with 12,864 people. 5

Migration of the Tyler family to Ireland

Some of the Tyler family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tyler migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Tyler family to immigrate North America:

Tyler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Tyler, who landed in Virginia in 1622 6
John Tyler, who settled in Virginia in 1623 with Elizabeth, Robert, William
Elizabeth Tyler, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 6
Nathaniel Tyler, who settled in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1630
Thomas Tyler, who settled in Virginia in 1635
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Tyler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Baptist Tyler, who settled in Maryland in 1706
Thomas Tyler, who settled in Boston in 1766 with his servant
William Tyler, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Tyler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel A Tyler, who landed in New York in 1832 6
Richard Tyler, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 6
John Tyler, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1860 6
Alex Tyler, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 6

Tyler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tyler Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Peter Tyler U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 176 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 7
Mr. William Tyler U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783, then relocated to Ontario in 1799 he served in the Prince of Wales Regiment 7
Lieut Tyler, who landed in Quebec in 1784
Mr. Gerrard Tyler U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Loyal Rangers, 1 child 7

Tyler migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Tyler Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Harriet Tyler, (b. 1788), aged 22, English convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. James Tyler, English convict who was convicted in Cumbria (Cumberland), England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Edward Tyler, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Charles Tyler, (Tylor), British convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Thomas Tyler, a mason, who arrived in Van Diemenâ€™s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Tyler migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Tyler Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Tyler, aged 17, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
H.M. Tyler, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Northfleet" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in February 1854 12
Mr. H. W. Tyler, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Northfleet" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in February 1854 12
Mr. James Tyler, (b. 1838), aged 18, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th October 1856 12
Mr. Edward Tyler, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Tyler migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Tyler Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Tyler, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Tyler (post 1700) +

James Tyler (1952-2024), American luthier and spear head behind James Tyler Guitars
Bob Hoyt Tyler (1932-2024), American college football coach
Letitia Tyler (1790-1842), née Christian, First Lady of the United States from 1841 to 1842 as the first wife of President John Tyler, the first person to die while serving as first lady of the United States
James Michael Tyler (1962-2021), American actor best known for his role as Gunther on the NBC sitcom Friends
Marilyn Tyler (1926-2017), American soprano and music pedagogue
Albert Tyler (b. 1872), American silver Olympic medalist for athletics during the 1896 games
Robert Ogden Tyler (1831-1874), American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War
Royall Tyler (1757-1826), American jurist and playwright who wrote The Contrast (1787) and The Algerine Captive (1797)
President John Tyler (1790-1862), American politician, 10th American President
Frederick Daniel Tyler (b. 1954), American gold medalist Olympic swimmer
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Tyler family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Charles Desmond Tyler (1911-1941), Australian Bandsman from Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 15

Prince of Wales colliery

Mr. Thomas Tyler (b. 1840), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 16

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Samuel Tyler, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Whitehall, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 17

Sources +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/