NameCensus.

UK surname

Templer

A surname derived from the occupational term "templar", referring to a member of the religious military order of the Templars.

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Templer surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Wiltshire and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Templer is 220 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.0%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

1911

220 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Templer had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Templer surname distribution map

The map shows where the Templer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Templer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Templer over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 216 #9,818
1861 historical 193 #12,371
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 205 #14,884
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 161 #20,868
2000 modern 160 #20,903
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 157 #21,168
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 150 #21,915
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 160 #21,978
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 155 #22,790
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

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Where Templers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Paddington, Gretton and Marsh Gibbon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Wiltshire, North Somerset, South Somerset and Westminster. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 Gretton Rutland
5 Marsh Gibbon Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 002 Gwynedd
2 Wiltshire 049 Wiltshire
3 North Somerset 001 North Somerset
4 South Somerset 016 South Somerset
5 Westminster 014 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Templer

These lists show first names that appear often with the Templer surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Templer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Templer, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Templer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Templer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Templer is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Templer is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Templer falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Templer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Templer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Templer

The surname Templer originated in Germany during the medieval period, derived from the word "temple" or "tempel" in German. It is believed that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near a temple or church, or those who worked within the premises of a religious establishment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Templer can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of documents from the medieval Kingdom of Saxony, dating back to the 12th century. This suggests that the name was present in the region during that time.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals bearing the surname Templer in various parts of Germany, including Bavaria and Franconia. The name was often spelled differently, such as "Tempeler" or "Templair," reflecting the variations in regional dialects.

During the crusades, the Knights Templar, a Catholic military order, gained significant prominence. While the surname Templer is not directly related to this order, it is possible that some individuals adopted or were assigned the name due to their associations with the Knights Templar or their proximity to Templar properties.

One notable figure with the surname Templer was Johann Templer (1548-1629), a German theologian and writer from Saxony. He authored several religious works and served as a pastor in various churches.

Another individual of note was Hans Templer (1598-1668), a German architect and builder who was involved in the construction of several churches and public buildings in the city of Nuremberg.

In the 18th century, Johann Christoph Templer (1723-1802) was a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and religious scenes. He worked extensively in Dresden and Leipzig.

The surname Templer also spread beyond Germany, with records showing individuals bearing this name in other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands and England. For instance, Pieter Templer (1677-1749) was a Dutch painter and art dealer who lived and worked in Amsterdam.

In England, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Templer dates back to the 16th century, with a reference to a "John Templer" in the parish records of Gloucestershire in 1567.

While the surname Templer has its origins in Germany, it has since been adopted and carried by families across various countries and cultures, each with their own unique histories and traditions associated with the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Templer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Templer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 29 Templers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 1.81x
Devon 25 7.51x
Somerset 13 5.05x
Buckinghamshire 11 11.37x
Lancashire 10 0.53x
Northamptonshire 10 6.65x
Staffordshire 9 1.67x
Surrey 8 1.03x
Yorkshire 8 0.50x
Leicestershire 6 3.38x
Monmouthshire 6 5.19x
Dorset 5 4.76x
Wiltshire 5 3.53x
Kent 4 0.73x
Sussex 4 1.48x
Gloucestershire 3 0.96x
Cheshire 2 0.57x
Northumberland 2 0.84x
Oxfordshire 2 2.02x
Stirlingshire 1 1.69x
Warwickshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 10 Templers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.71x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 10 11.71x
Pilkington 9 124.83x
East Teignmouth 8 588.24x
Bishopsteignton 6 952.38x
Paddington London 6 10.20x
Wimbledon 6 68.57x
Great Easton 5 1666.67x
Harrow 5 204.08x
Horninglow 5 196.85x
Laxton 5 10000.00x
Leeds 5 5.59x
Trevethin 5 45.79x
Wellington 5 143.27x
Bridgewater 4 57.22x
Burton Bradstock 4 769.23x
Colwich 4 312.50x
Gretton 4 869.57x
Islington London 4 2.58x
Ludgershall 4 1739.13x
Marsh Gibbon 4 975.61x
Brighton 3 5.51x
West Teignmouth 3 117.65x
Bathwick 2 70.18x
Compton Gifford 2 192.31x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 26.21x
Harrow On The Hill 2 62.50x
Lewisham 2 6.87x
Lyneham 2 363.64x
Oxford St Giles 2 42.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 7.80x
Preshute 2 229.89x
Sculcoates 2 7.96x
Tonbridge 2 10.16x
Tranmere 2 15.41x
Warkleigh 2 1538.46x
Aylesbury 1 23.31x
Bedminster 1 4.13x
Birmingham 1 0.74x
Bristol Temple 1 48.31x
Buckingham 1 50.76x
Camberwell 1 0.98x
Charmouth 1 294.12x
Cheltenham 1 4.13x
Godalming 1 20.37x
Grendon Underwood 1 454.55x
Hammersmith London 1 2.54x
Hayton 1 833.33x
Horsham 1 19.08x
Kensington London 1 1.12x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.31x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 1 100.00x
Newport 1 18.12x
Preston 1 1.97x
Seghill 1 85.47x
Stapleton 1 16.81x
Stirling 1 13.44x
Weekley 1 714.29x
West Chevington 1 357.14x
Winscombe 1 142.86x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Templer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Templer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Templer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Templer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Templer surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Templer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Templer a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Templer surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupational term "templar", referring to a member of the religious military order of the Templars.

What does the Templer map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Templer bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.