| ![Show Contents]() Knoff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The history of the Knoff family dates back to the 12th century, when hereditary surnames first began to be used in Germany. The name Knoff comes from Bavaria, and is derived from the Old German word "Knopf," meaning "button"; thus, it is a name for a maker of buttons, usually of horn. Early Origins of the Knoff familyThe surname Knoff was first found in Bavaria, where this family made important contributions toward the development of this district from ancient times. Ancient chronicles first mention the knight Johann Knop of Thuringia in 1368, Michel Knoepfle of Ravensburg in 1476, and Knoepfelman of Speyer in 1334. Early History of the Knoff familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knoff research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1728, 1769, 1842, 1874, 1895 and 1920 are included under the topic Early Knoff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Knoff Spelling VariationsOne can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Knoff include Knopfler, Knopf, Knopfle, Knoepfel, Knoepfle, Knoepfli, Knoepfler, Knoff, Knof, Knofler, Knoffler, Knopfer, Knop, Knopler, Knauff, Knauffer, Knauffel and many more. Early Notables of the Knoff familyAnother 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Knoff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Knoff migration to the United States | + |
Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Knoff or a variant listed above:
Knoff Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Herman Knoff, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Bergen, Norway, in 1908
- Conrad Knoff, aged 2, who immigrated to the United States from Lindenscheid, Germany, in 1909
- Emil Knoff, aged 9, who landed in America from Lindenscheid, Germany, in 1909
- Ferdinand Knoff, aged 25, who landed in America from Dembe, Russia, in 1910
- Emma Knoff, aged 22, who settled in America from Stuttgart, Germany, in 1912
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Knoff (post 1700) | + |
- Kurt L. Knoff (b. 1954), former American NFL football safety
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Knoff migration to the United States 
