Contents [hide]

Knapp History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Knapp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The name Knapp comes from the German province known as the Rhineland. In pre-medieval times, the German people used only one name, but as the population increased, hereditary surnames became necessary for people to maintain unique identities. Knapp is a nickname surname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Knapp is a name for a young person or for a person who had a youthful appearance. The surname Knapp was originally derived from the German word "knappe," which means "young."

Early Origins of the Knapp family

The surname Knapp was first found in the Rhineland, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Knapp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knapp research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1777, 1798, 1842 and 1926 are included under the topic Early Knapp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knapp Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Knapp include Knapp, Knap, Knappe, Knape, Knaap, Knaapp, Knapper, Knaper and many more.

Early Notables of the Knapp family

Notables with the name Knapp during this period were

Knapp (1842-1926), who was a famous economist and jurist, known for his theory that the State is the true creator of economic value...

Knapp Ranking

In the United States, the name Knapp is the 769^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 1

Knapp migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Knapp were among of the early German families that came to North America:

Knapp Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Knapp of Suffolk, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
Mrs. Elinor Knapp of Suffolk arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 2
Mr. William Knapp of Suffolk, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 2
Mrs. Knapp, wife of William, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 2
John Knapp of Suffolk, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knapp Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Knapp, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1753
Frederick Knapp, who arrived in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1763 3
Philip Henrich Knapp, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1771 3
Jacob Knapp, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1792 3

Knapp Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Knapp, who landed in America in 1800 3
Samuel Knapp, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 3
Mr. Peter Knapp, aged 28, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
Genofefa Knapp, aged 23, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
Mr. Peter Anton Knapp, aged 28, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knapp migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Knapp Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Private Knapp Benjamin U.E. (b. 1761) who settled in Western District [The townships of Essex County and Kent County], Ontario c. 1784 he served as Lieutenant in Colonel Butlers Company of the Corps Rangers, married Katherine having 10 children he died in Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1823 4
Mr. Knapp Joseph U.E. (b. 1743) born in New York, USA who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 he died in 1836 in Montague Township, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada 4
Mr. Knapp Moses U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 he was a member of the Reading Association 4

Knapp Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Knapp, who arrived in Canada in 1828
Ann Knapp, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
Henry Knapp, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
James Knapp, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Knapp migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Knapp Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Georgina Knapp, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 5
Thomas James Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 6
Georgian Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 6
George Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 6
Eliza Alldin Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knapp migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Knapp Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Knapp, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Olympus
James Knapp, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
Ellen Knapp, aged 17, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
Mr. George Knapp, (b. 1833), aged 20, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd December 1853 7
Mr. Charles E. Knapp, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gypsy" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th October 1856 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Knapp (post 1700) +

Jacob Richard "Jake" Knapp (b. 1994), American professional golfer, winner of the Mexico Open, Feb 25, 2024, Canada Life Open, May 26, 2019, GolfBC Championship Jun 16, 2019
Gwen Knapp (1961-2023), born Mary Gwen Knapp, an American sports journalist, contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Examiner, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The New York Times, one of the few female sports columnists at major metropolitan newspapers in the 1990s
Gregory Fishbeck "Greg" Knapp (1963-2021), American NFL football assistant coach for 25 seasons with the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks
Wilmot E. Knapp, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Chemung County, 1914 8
William F. Knapp, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1908 8
William C. Knapp, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1912 8
William Knapp, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 4th District, 1964 8
Walter W. Knapp, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1928, 1932; Candidate for Michigan State Senate 14th District, 1932 8
W. J. H. Knapp, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of St. Albans, West Virginia, 1941-42 8
V. K. Knapp (b. 1913), American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State Senate 4th District, 1963-72 8
... (Another 94 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Knapp family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Douglas John Knapp (1923-1941), Australian Stoker 2nd Class from Altona, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 9

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARTLEY 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Hartley.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN from London 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840John.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp