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| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
The name Knappenberger 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. Knappenberger is a nickname surname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Knappenberger is a name for a young person or for a person who had a youthful appearance. The surname Knappenberger was originally derived from the German word "knappe," which means "young."
The surname Knappenberger 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 Knappenberger research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1777, 1798, 1842 and 1926 are included under the topic Early Knappenberger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
One 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 Knappenberger 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 Knappenberger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Hundreds of thousands of Europeans, including many Rhinelanders, made the voyage to North America between the 17th and 20th centuries. It was an escape from religious persecution and poverty and also an opportunity for people to start over and own their own land. Most landed at Ellis Island, off New York before moving on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and California. Some also landed in Canada and settled in Ontario, while others headed west to the prairie provinces. A study of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of people bearing the name of Knappenberger, or one of its variants, reaching North America shores very early: