Contents [hide]

Temple History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Temple History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

Etymology of Temple

What does the name Temple mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Temple comes from the family having resided in an area that was close to the temple. Temple is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the landscape or area were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Temple were named due to their close proximity to the temple or the place of worship.

Early Origins of the Temple family

The surname Temple was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, and said to be descended from Leofric, the Saxon Earl of Chester, who died in 1057 before the Conquest. He left issue, Algar, Earl of Mercia and East Anglia, and the son Henry who obtained land from Robert, Earl of Leicester in the form of the Manor of Temple in Leicestershire. 1 One line of this name claim Burton Dassett, Warwickshire as their ancestral home.

Much father to the south and west, we found this interesting note about the parish of Temple, Cornwall. "However applicable the name of this parish might have been to it in former years, nothing can be more injudicious than its present appropriation, since the whole district contains no place of worship whatever, and only three cottages in which human beings reside. The manor and church of Temple belonged originally to the Knights Templars, to whom were given many peculiar privileges. This order was founded in the year 1118, when Godfrey de St. Omer, Hugh de Pagans, and several others offered their services to Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, to defend the pilgrims travelling thither from robbery and violence. Baldwin, to reward their services, bestowed upon them a house near the Temple, in consequence of which they were called Knights Templars. When the Knights Templars and their retinue deserted the place, their tenants, not having their possessions, followed their example. Their chapel was then suffered to fall into ruin." 2

Early History of the Temple family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Temple research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1555, 1567, 1599, 1600, 1606, 1611, 1613, 1627, 1628, 1634, 1637, 1641, 1645, 1653, 1657, 1663, 1669, 1670, 1674, 1677, 1680, 1697, 1699, 1718 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Temple History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Temple Spelling Variations

Temple has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Temple, Tempell, Temples and others.

Early Notables of the Temple family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir Thomas Temple (1567- ca. 1637), English landowner and Member of Parliament, created 1st Baronet Temple of Stowe, Buckinghamshire in 1611
Peter Temple (ca. 1599-1663) of Temple Hall, an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1645 and 1653, one of the Regicides of King Charles
James Temple (1606-1680), a puritan and English Civil War soldier from Rochester, Kent who was convicted of the regicide of Charles
Sir Thomas Temple, 1st Baronet (1613-1674), British proprietor, Governor of Acadia (Nova Scotia) (1657-1670)
Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet (1634-1697), an English politician
Sir William Temple (1628-1699), British statesman, and writer, who arranged the marriage between William of Orange and Princess Mary of England (later William III and Mary II)

Temple Ranking

In the United States, the name Temple is the 1,465^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Temple is ranked the 708^th most popular surname with an estimated 61 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Temple family to Ireland

Some of the Temple family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Temple migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Temples to arrive on North American shores:

Temple Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Temple, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Margaret" 5
Abraham Temple, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1636 5
Mary Temple, who arrived in Virginia in 1643 5
Richard Temple, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1647 5
Thomas Temple, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1657 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Temple Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Tho Temple, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 5
Samuel Temple, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 5
Mathew Temple, who landed in Virginia in 1705 5
Jeremia Temple, who landed in Virginia in 1705 5
William Temple, who landed in New England in 1729 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Temple Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Magdalena Temple, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 5
James Temple, who settled in Virginia in New York in 1823
Hugh Temple, aged 16, who landed in New York in 1849 5
Don Juan Temple, who arrived in California in 1851 5
John Temple, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Temple Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Oscar F Temple, who arrived in Mississippi in 1903 5

Temple migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Temple Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Thomas Temple, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Temple Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Temple, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834
Mr. Jerry Temple, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Josepha" departing 9th May 1847 from Belfast, Ireland; the ship arrived on 18th June 1847 but he died on board 6

Temple migration to Australia +

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

Temple Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Temple, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. William Temple, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
John Temple, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. George Temple, (b. 1795), aged 36, Scottish cabinet maker who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1835 10
Lucy Temple, English convict from Durham, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on December 14, 1835, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Temple 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:

William Temple, aged 19, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850

Temple Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Susan Temple, (b. 1837), aged 30, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1867 12
Mr. Temple, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1868 12
G. Temple, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Queen" in 1883 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Temple (post 1700) +

Edward Stanley "Ed" Temple (1927-2016), American women's track and field pioneer and coach, inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
Arthur "Buddy" Temple III (1942-2015), American businessman and politician, Texas Railroad Commissioner (1981-1986) and Texas State Representative from District 6 (1973-1981)
William Temple (1814-1863), American merchant and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware in 1863, 35th Governor of Delaware (1846-1847)
Tony Temple (b. 1985), American former starting running back for the Missouri Tigers football team
Robert K. G. Temple (b. 1945), American author best known for his controversial book, The Sirius Mystery (1976)
Owen Temple (b. 1976), American folk and country music songwriter
Luke Temple, American pop-folk singer-songwriter
Lew Temple (b. 1967), American film actor
Floyd O. Temple (1926-2012), American head coach of the University of Kansas baseball team from 1954 to 1981
Shirley Jane Temple Black (1928-2014), born Shirley Jane Temple, American child actress, and a United States Ambassador and diplomat, ranked 18th on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female American screen legends of all time
... (Another 41 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Temple Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Templa quam dilecta
Motto Translation: Temples, how beloved.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 97)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1835 with 132 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1835
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html