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
Scholar 1,658
Cotton Weaver 280
Agricultural Labourer 181
Coal Miner 114
House Keeper 99
House Servant 91
Labourer 89
Dress Maker 82
Carter 48
Cotton Spinner 48
Cotton Winder 47
Blacksmith 44
General Servant 44
Servant 43
Nail Maker 42
Laundress 38
Stone Mason 38
Joiner 35
Power Loom Cotton Weaver 34
Farmers Son 34
Farmers Wife 29
Wife Of Above 27
Butcher 26
Farmer 26
House Maid 25

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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