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 2,180
Cotton Weaver 355
Agricultural Labourer 172
Labourer 164
Coal Miner 126
House Keeper 102
Domestic Servant 78
General Servant 78
Dress Maker 73
Cotton Spinner 66
Cotton Winder 49
Annuitant 48
Stone Mason 43
Laundress 42
Blacksmith 41
Servant 41
Hatter 40
Weaver 37
Joiner 36
Farm Servant 35
Wife Of Above 34
Grocer 32
Shoe Maker 32
Miner 32
Gardener 31

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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