Daily AncestorTempy
Tempy stood for Temperance in many American records of the 1700s and 1800s.
Tempy is a short form of Temperance, one of the virtue names given to girls. Nickname lists made for 18th and 19th century research, such as the one from the Connecticut State Library, pair Tempy with Temperance.
If a search for Temperance finds nothing, try Tempy, and the reverse. Treat a match as a lead and confirm it with age, birthplace and family members.
As seen in a record1850 census; her 1831 marriage record calls her Temperance
Tempy Ruggles, 38, F, Vt.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Tempy." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/tempy. Last checked 2026-10-15.