Note on the probable origin of the Scottish surname of Gemmill or Gemmell

" the existing entail. The position is one merely of academic
" and historical interest. No payment was ever made to, or
" asked by, me from the lands of Templehouse."
The earliest record of the family of Gemmill and of
their connection with Templehouse is an entry in the
Register of the Templelands, now in the General Register
House in Edinburgh, and which relates that Patrik Gemmill
appeared before the Temple Court held at Ayr on the 19th
August, 1586, and produced a precept of dare constat of
James Lord Sanct Johnne, entering him as son and heir of
Johnne Gemmill in the Templelands in the parish of Dunlop,
of date 10th August, 1559. The entry is as follows :
VICECOMITATUS DE AIR.
" Curia secundaproductionum infeofamentorum terrarum
" templariarum infra vicecomitatum de Air balliatun cle Kyll
"Carick et Cuninghame super fundurn terre templarie Eliza-
" bethe Wallace infra burgum de Air coram Davide Crawford
" balliuo templariorum ibidem virtute commissionis Domini
" Torphichen sub subscriptione sui tutoris subscripte nee non
" virtute dispensationis Dorainorum Consilii xix Augusti
" 1586. Sectis vocatis curia affirmata.
" Compeirit Patiik Gemmill and producit a pi'ecept of
" clare constat of James lord Sanct Johnne under his seill and
" subscriptioun enterand him as sone and air of Johnne Gem-
" mill of all and haili the tempillandis of Dunlophill with the
" pertinentis lyand within the parochin of Dunlope and
" scherefdome of Air, of the dait the tent of August, 1559,
" withe sesing thairon, Sir Hew Dunlop notter, of the dait 23
" August and yeir of God foirsaid, withe ane Acquittance of
" Johnne Spottiswod of ijs for lxxxv yeir and all utter yeiris
" bygane, and the said Johnne Spottiswod grantit it to be
" trew,"
The sum ijs (two shillings) here mentioned was the feu