Show ContentsKnier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Knier is a name that originated in Thuringia, which is located between Hessen and Lower Saxony in the west and Saxony in the east. By and large, hereditary surname were formed in Germany when areas of Thuringia, and most of the German states, were a part of the Holy Roman Empire. At this time, as the population of Europe swelled and travel became easier, people began to encounter others sharing their own name and they avoided confusion by adopting a second name. A common form of surname found in Thuringia are those that are derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Knier was a name for a hunchback. The distinguished name Knier is derived from the German word "knorre," which means "lump" or "outgrowth."

Early Origins of the Knier family

The surname Knier was first found in Thuringia, where the name could be considered to have made a great contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of modern Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the local and national conflicts in which groups sought power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Knier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knier research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1535, 1600, 1636, 1681, 1689, 1726, 1728, 1803, 1830, 1853, 1859, 1888, 1889, 1916 and 1921 are included under the topic Early Knier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knier Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Knor, Knorre, Knore, Knoarr, Knoare and others.

Early Notables of the Knier family

Notable members of the surname Knier in this period were Christian Knorr von Rosenroth (1636-1689), an alchemist who wrote religious poems, one of which is still well known today. Iwan Knorr (1853-1916)...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Knier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Knier migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Knier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Abram Knier, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 1
Knier Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Giovanni Knier, aged 28, who landed in America from Sersser, in 1902
  • Susanna Knier, aged 38, who settled in America from Pichnys, in 1904
  • Andrzey Knier, aged 8, who landed in America from Pichnys, in 1904
  • E. H. Knier, who immigrated to the United States, in 1921


  1. 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)


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