This interesting and ancient surname recorded in many spellings include Temple, Tempel, Tempell , Temprell, and Temporal is indisputably associated with the Knight Templars, although it has other possible origins. Firstly, it is probably for most nameholders of early medieval English and French origin, and an occupational who was employed as a Knights Templar. These were a crusading order so named because they claimed to occupy in Jerusalem the site of the original Christian temple. The order was founded in 1118 and flourished for two hundred years, but was suppressed as being heretical in 1312. It may also be of Scottish locational origin, from the parish of Temple in Edinburgh, likewise so called because it was the site of the local headquarters of the Knights Templar. Early recordings taken from authentic registers include William Temple, listed in the Calendar of Plea for the City of London in 1380, whilst Agnes de Temple held lands in Haddington, Scotland, in 1429. One of the earliest settlers in New England was Thomas Temple Esquire, who was appointed Governor for life of Laccady, and other territories in America, in 1616. Richard Temperle was a christeneing witness at St Giles Cripplegate, London, in 1652, whilst Elisabeth Temprell married Richard Brooks at St James church, Paddington, on March 30th 1821. The first recorded spelling of the family name was that of Hugo del Temple, which was dated 1131, in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicles for the county of Essex", during the reign of King Henry 1, known as "The Lion of Justice", 1100 - 1135.

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