This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of the temple,' any sacred enclosure. Anglo-Saxon tempel; H.E. temple, from residence thereby.

Matilda du Temple, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Petrus del Tempil, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

P Matilda de Tempell, 1379: ibid.

1576. Leonard Temple, Oxfordshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1634. William Chapman and Joane Temple: Marriage Lic. (London).

This surname is derived from an official title. (1) One of the great religious body vowed to protect the Temple and Holy Sepulchre, a Crusader; (a) the custodian of a temple or church in England; compare Churcher, and v. Temple.

William le Templyr et Alicia uxor: Close Rolls 43 Henry III.

William Templer, Lincolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Agnes le Templer, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Adam le Templer, 1307. Writs of Parliament.

John Templer, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

William le Templer. Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi.

1641. Thomas Hutchinson and Lettice Templar: Marriage Lic. (London).

1766. Married — William Templer and Elizabeth Dunn: St. George, Hanover Square.

From the village of Temple in the parish of the same name in Midlothian, formerly the principal place of residence of the Knights Templars in Scotland. "The preceptories or priories of the Knights-Templars were often called Temples, and even manorial residences and estates belonging to them obtained the same appellation. The name consequently passed to tenant or bailiff of such a property ' (Lower, Patronymica Britannica). Agnes de Tempill held a land in the vill and territory of Elstanfurd in the constabulary of Haddington in 1429 (RMS., II, 124). Johannes Tempill had a remission for his share in burning the town of Dunbertane in 1489 (Lennox, II, p. 133). William Tempill, canon of the Collegiate Church of Holy Trinity, Edinburgh, appears frequently in record in the first half oi the sixteenth century (Soltre).

(Anglo-Latin) Templar [Middle English templer, Low Latin templarius: v. under Temple] William Templer.—Hundred Rolls

The preceptories or priories of the Knights-Templars were often called Temples, as Temple-Bruer, Temple-Newsham, &c., and even manorial residences and estates, belonging to them, obtained the same dignified appellation. The tenant or bailiff of such a property was sometimes known by the surname At-Temple, or Templeman; for example at Sompting, co. Sussex, where this order possessed lands, Peter at Temple is named in the Nona Return of 1341. In the previous century, De Temple, Du Temple, Le Templer, &c., occurin H.R.

Another form of Templeman, or At Temple.

From the manor of Temple, in Wellesborough, Leicestershire, which name was given by the old Earl of Leicester, one of the Knights Templars, who usually gave the name of Temple to their lands.