How to Trace Your Ancestry to the Knights Templar
If you’ve ever wondered whether your ancestors were Knights Templar, you’re not alone. Many history enthusiasts have traced their family lines back to the Middle Ages, with some even identifying Templar connections. But how can you confirm such a lineage? Here’s a guide to help you on your journey of discovery.
Start with Ancestry Websites
Using online genealogy tools is a great first step. Personally, I’m hooked on Ancestry.com, which has helped me reconnect with distant relatives, including some Irish-American cousins I had never met. This year, I even went to see the musical Hamilton in London with two third cousins, where we shared family stories over dinner. They were descendants of my great-grandmother’s sister, who emigrated from County Tyrone, Ireland, and eventually passed away in Arizona at over 100 years old.
Ancestry.com is a powerful tool, and its resources can take you far in tracing your family history. But what if you’re hoping to find a connection to the Templars?
Were Your Ancestors from Europe?
To start, you need to trace your family back to their European roots. Ancestry.com and similar websites can usually help you go back a century or two. Once you’ve established your European origins, the real adventure begins.
If your ancestors were from Ireland, you might face some challenges. Catholic church records before the 1820s are often incomplete, and many were lost when the Custom House in Dublin was burned down in 1921. Additionally, names might have been recorded in Gaelic rather than English, so consider variations in spelling.
Services like Irishgenealogy.ie and nidirect.gov.uk (for Northern Ireland) can be invaluable, along with online resources from Ireland’s National Archives. Keep in mind that a Templar connection is more likely if your family has Anglo-Norman roots, as the Templars were part of the invading Norman forces. However, there could have been local recruits as well.
In the United Kingdom, birth, marriage, and death certificates are held by the General Register Office. As you go further back, local parish records will become your primary resource. Find out where your family was based and contact local churches or councils to locate records.
Medieval Records: A Surprising Wealth of Information
If you manage to trace your lineage back to the Middle Ages, you might be surprised by the amount of information available. Websites like medievalsoldier.org offer detailed records of peasants who enrolled as soldiers in wars between England and France from 1369 to 1453, as well as those who fought in England’s wars against the Welsh, Irish, and Spanish.
Medieval people also left behind records through lawsuits, guild memberships, and apprenticeships. London’s ancient trade associations, known as Livery Companies, have pooled their data on the London Roll website (ROLLCO). These rolls contain valuable details on transactions and court rulings.
For those interested in tracing wills and land transfers, medievalgenealogy.org.uk is a treasure trove of probate and manorial records, with additional clues from church monuments.
Check the Spelling of Your Ancestors' Names
As with any genealogical research, name spellings can vary wildly from one century to the next. Census takers often didn’t prioritize accuracy, and linguistic differences between French Norman names and Saxon scribes could lead to confusion. Be sure to check for variations in documents like the Domesday Book as you conduct your research.
To establish a Templar connection, investigate whether your family originated in areas where the Templars held estates. In the UK, village and town names like Templecombe (Somerset) and Temple Meads (Bristol) offer clues, though some places like Temple Grafton in Warwickshire may have no Templar link at all.
In Scotland, the Templar headquarters were located at Balantrodoch, near Edinburgh. Of course, Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by Dan Brown, is also a significant site. If you’re tracing Scottish connections, services like ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk can be helpful.
Share Your Discoveries
Good luck with your research! If you uncover a connection to the Knights Templar, I’d love to hear about your experience. Share your discoveries and let’s continue to unravel the mysteries of our shared history.
I hope this blog-friendly version helps you in sharing your insights!