Find out how popular the last name Temp is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Temp.

Temp, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Temp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Temp in America

Temp is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Temp surname appeared 140 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Temp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Temp to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Temp

The surname TEMP is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English word "temp," which means "time" or "season." This name was likely given to someone who lived near a specific temporal marker, such as a church or landmark, or perhaps it indicated their occupation or role in marking time or seasons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TEMP can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants in England after the Norman Conquest. The name appears to have been concentrated primarily in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire during that period.

In the 13th century, the surname TEMP was often spelled "Tempe" or "Tempre," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that time. Several records from this era mention individuals with the surname, including William Tempe, a landowner in Nottinghamshire in 1275, and John Tempre, a merchant in London in 1298.

One notable bearer of the surname TEMP was Sir John Temp (c. 1450-1515), a prominent English statesman and diplomat during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served as a member of the Privy Council and was involved in negotiations with foreign powers.

In the 16th century, the surname TEMP was also found in Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled "Tempe" or "Tempill." One example is Robert Tempe (c. 1520-1585), a Scottish clergyman and scholar who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow.

Another significant figure with the surname TEMP was Sir William Temp (1598-1672), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He played a crucial role in the legal and political affairs of the time, particularly during the English Civil War and the Commonwealth period.

Other notable individuals with the surname TEMP include Thomas Temp (1738-1811), an English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London, and Emily Temp (1814-1898), a British author and poet who published several collections of poetry and novels during the Victorian era.

While the surname TEMP is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including statesmen, scholars, lawyers, and artists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Temp

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Temp.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Temp was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Temp has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Temp was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Temp, please contact us.

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