Knie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Knie come from when the family resided in one of the places called Needham in the counties of Derbyshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The surname Knie belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Knie family

The surname Knie was first found in Derbyshire at Alvaston, a chapelry, in the parish of St. Michael, Derby, union of Shardlow, hundred of Morleston and Litchurch. " In 1547 [the manor of Alvaston] was granted to the Needham family, from whom it passed to various hands." 1

Early History of the Knie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knie research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1461, 1506, 1620, 1625, 1631 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Knie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knie Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Knie has been recorded under many different variations, including Needham, Nedham and others.

Early Notables of the Knie family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Knie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Knie family to Ireland

Some of the Knie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knie migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Knie or a variant listed above:

Knie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Leopolde Knie, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806 2
Anna Knie, who landed in America, in 1892
Carl Knie, aged 29, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Isaac Knie, aged 16, who settled in America, in 1896

Knie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William Knie, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1920
Reinhard Knie, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Knie (post 1700) +

Roberta Knie (b. 1938), American dramatic soprano
Rolf Knie (b. 1949), Swiss painter

The Knie Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nunc aut nunquam
Motto Translation: Now or never.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)