Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
TEMPLE
As described in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
From the manor of Temple, in Wellesborough, Leicestershire, which name was given by the old Earl of Leicester, one of the Knights Templars, who usually gave the name of Temple to their lands.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
TEMPLE. The pveceptorles or priories of the Knights-Templars were often called Temples, as Temple-Bruer, Temple-Newsham, &c., and even manorial residences and estates, belonging to them, obtained the same dignified appellation. The tenant or bailiff of such a property was sometimes kuQwn by the surname At-Temple, or Templeman ; for example at Sompting, co. Sussex, where this order possessed lands, Peter at Temple is named in the Nona Eeturn of loil. In the previous centmy, De Temple, Du Temple, Le Templer, &c., occur in H.R.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English