 According to Nash (1784) the name the "Commandery" (pronounced Command-ery) is associated with the Knights of the Crusades.He speculates that the first known master of the Hospital of St Wulfstan, a man known only as Walter, had fought in the Crusades under the banner of either the Knights Templar or the Knights Hospitaler prior to his appointment at the hospital.Walter apparently continued to use his military title of Commander until his death c. 1290, when his successor as master also took on the title, so starting a tradition amongst masters.