This interesting surname, with variant spellings Templer, Temple, Templier, etc., has a number of possible origins. Firstly, it may be of English and French occupational or habitational origin for someone who was employed at or lived near one of the houses maintained by the Knights Templar, a crusading Order so named because they claimed to occupy in Jerusalem the site of the old Temple. The order was founded in 1118 and flourished for 200 yrs., but was suppressed as being heretical in 1312. It may also have been the name given to foundlings baptized at the Temple Church, London, so called because it was originally built on land belonging to the Templars. Finally, it may 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. One, William Templer, is noted in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273. On July 6th 1600, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Templar was christened at St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London and the marriage of Francis Templar and Anne Rowe took place at St. James, Dukes Place, London on July 29th 1694. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert le Templer, which was dated 1220, Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 111, "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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