TEMPLETON
Templeton is a surname of English origin, classified within the broader Celtic tradition of the British Isles. The name originally derives from the Old English words templ, meaning “temple”, and tun, meaning an enclosure, settlement or farm.
The earliest documented use of the name appears in the year 1295 when Gilbertus de Tempilton was recorded as the rector of Rothesay in Scotland. Further early references include Gilbert de Templeton of Ayr, who in 1296 rendered homage to the Scottish Interregnum Government; Jacobus de Templetone of Ayr in 1306; and Johne Tempiltoun of Ayr. These entries confirm that the name was already in use among the landed gentry of Ayrshire and Lanark prior to the reign of Robert the Bruce.
By the mid‑seventeenth century, the surname had been introduced to Ireland. An example is John Templeton, who married Mary Higginson at Blaris in County Antrim on 2 November 1669. In England the name does not appear in contemporary records until 1670, when Thomas Templeton married Joan Stripelill at St Bartholomew the Less in London on 20 November. The village of Templeton in Berkshire and Devon were not mentioned in parish records until the mid‑eighteenth century, in 1753 and 1763 respectively.
The coat of arms borne by the Scottish Templetons is blazoned as a red field charged with a silver temple; a black chief bears a gold star. This heraldic device reflects the name’s original association with a settlement that surrounded a temple or sacred site.
The surname is commonly associated with several alternate spellings, including Tempilton, Templton and Templeten. Variants have also arisen in different regions, for example Templhoun in Scotland, Templton in France, Tempelton in Germany, and Templethin in Ireland. These changes in orthography are a natural result of regional dialects and the evolution of spelling over the centuries.
In contemporary times the surname is most prevalent in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland; it is also found in England, most strongly in London and the Midlands. In the United States the name occurs throughout the country, with significant concentrations in Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, New York and California.
Notable cultural references include the Templeton Prize, an annual award given to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension. The prize, as well as the Templeton Foundation, are named in honour of the late Sir John Templeton, a distinguished investor and philanthropist known for his philanthropic activities across the globe.
Overall, the surname Templeton reflects a long-standing heritage rooted in early Christian and pre‑Christian settlements of the British Isles, a heritage that has endured through numerous centuries and across several continents.
Typical given names associated with the Templeton surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Alison
- Anna
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Gillian
- Helen
- Julie
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Templeton in...
Braille
⠞⠑⠍⠏⠇⠑⠞⠕⠝
Morse
-.--.--..-...-----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 3,503 people named Templeton in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,617th most common surname in Britain. Around 54 in a million people in Britain are named Templeton.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Templeton
- John Templeton - Stock investor, businessman and philanthropist (1912 to 2008)
- David Templeton - Scottish football player
- Molly Templeton - Vlogger
- Henry Templeton - Scottish football player
- Matty Templeton - Football player
- Alec Templeton - Composer (1910 to 1963)
- Bert Templeton - Canadian ice hockey coach (1940 to 2003)
- Bobby Templeton - Scottish football player (1880 to 1919)
- Callum Templeton - Rugby union player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.