Gaylord Family History

English (southern of Norman origin): variant of Gaylard altered by folk etymology from the Old French and Middle English personal name Gaillart, Gallard, Galliard representing either the ancient Germanic personal name Gailhard (composed of elements meaning ‘powerful, lusty, cheerful’ + ‘hard, firm, resilient, strong’) or Old French gaillard, gaillart ‘vigorous, powerful, strong’.

Alternatively from Middle English gaillard, galiard ‘brave, strong, valiant’ also ‘lively, gay, gaily dressed’. Altered form of Gaylard itself an Anglicized form of French Gaillard which was brought to England by the Huguenots.

In some cases also an Americanized form of French Gaillard.