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| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
The name Knabe 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. Knabe is a nickname surname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Knabe is a name for a young person or for a person who had a youthful appearance. The surname Knabe was originally derived from the German word "knappe," which means "young."
The surname Knabe 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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knabe research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1777, 1798, 1842 and 1926 are included under the topic Early Knabe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Knabe include Knapp, Knap, Knappe, Knape, Knaap, Knaapp, Knapper, Knaper and many more.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Knabe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from the Rhineland who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. Many of those who left the Rhineland to seek their fortunes in the prosperous and free New World settled in the major urban centers of the United States and Canada. In the United States, the settlers from the Rhineland passed through immigration centers like that of Ellis Island, most of them moving on to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, the majority of Rhinelanders settled in Ontario and the prairie provinces. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many important settlers to North America bearing the name Knabe, or one of its variants above: