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

Temples, 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 Temples surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Temples in America

Temples is the 16427th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Temples surname appeared 1,751 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Temples.

We can also compare 2010 data for Temples 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 Temples

The surname "TEMPLES" is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, likely around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "tempel," which means a church or a temple. The name was initially used to refer to individuals who lived near or worked at a church or a temple.

The earliest recorded mention of the name "TEMPLES" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1198. In these records, a person named Roger Temples is listed as a landowner. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where it is spelled as "Templis."

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name "TEMPLES" was predominantly found in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. It is possible that the name originated in these areas, where there were numerous churches and religious establishments.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name "TEMPLES" was Sir William Temples (c. 1305-1367), a knight who served in the retinue of Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was granted lands in Oxfordshire for his military service.

In the 15th century, the name "TEMPLES" appeared in various records, including the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from a prominent Norfolk family. In one letter dated 1472, a person named John Temples is mentioned as a servant to the Paston household.

During the Tudor period, a notable figure with the surname "TEMPLES" was Sir Thomas Temples (c. 1490-1559). He was a wealthy landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1547 and 1553.

In the 17th century, the name "TEMPLES" gained prominence with the philosopher and statesman Sir William Temples (1628-1699). He was a influential figure in the courts of Charles II and William III and is best known for his essays on gardening and his diplomatic efforts.

Another notable bearer of the name "TEMPLES" was Richard Temples (1673-1748), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

Throughout the centuries, the name "TEMPLES" has been associated with various place names, such as Temple Guiting in Gloucestershire, Temple Herdewyke in Warwickshire, and Temple Newsam in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Tempill, Tempill, and Tempell.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Temples

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

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 Temples 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 Temples 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 Temples was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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