Knowles Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Knowles Name Meaning: Name given to someone who lived at the top of a hill, taken from the plural form of Middle English 'knoll'. Or name given to people who lived in the many places thus named.

Believed to be found first in Yorkshire, where records show an ancient seat held before the Norman Conquests.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Knowles Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Knowles family

Profession Census Frequency
Female Servant 234
Agricultural Labourer 186
Independent 168
Weaver 155
Cotton Weaver 142
Farmer 141
Labourer 112
Male Servant 85
Shoe Maker 47
Cotton Spinner 47
Coal Miner 38
Dress Maker 30
Pupil 29
Ag Labourer 28
Power Loom Weaver 26
Gardener 25
Joiner 25
Cotton Piecer 25
Clerk 22
Stone Mason 22
Tailor 21
Hatter 21
Blacksmith 21
Apprentice 19
Spinner 18

Knowles Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Knowles 100% 104,699
2 Knowls 86% 1,892
3 Knowels 71% 425
4 Noles 71% 220
5 Knoles 86% 168

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The surname Knowles is the most popular version of all its varients

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