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 2,263
Cotton Weaver 445
Coal Miner 251
General Labourer 148
Living On Own Means 136
Farmer 126
Domestic Servant 109
Dress Maker 97
Cotton Spinner 88
Living On Her Own Means 87
Agricultural Labourer 76
Labourer 74
House Keeper 64
General Servant 54
Cotton Winder 53
Farm Labourer 52
General Servant Domestic 46
Laundress 42
Clerk 38
Carter 36
Gardener 33
Grocer 33
Joiner 32
Errand Boy 31
Farm Servant 28

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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