Did they have tile in the 1800s?

With the Victorian era, the push for cleanliness and public health, popularized tiles as a surface that could be cleaned and sanitized. Until this time, encaustic tiles were the dominant form of tiles.

What were the earliest forms of tiles used for?

The word “tile” finds its origins in the Latin word “tegula,” meaning “to cover,” and the word “ceramic” comes from the Ancient Greek word “kéramos,” meaning “potter's earth.” Some of the first-ever tiles were indeed used to cover and protect buildings.