Knox History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 
  England 


The Knox surname comes from the Old English word "cnocc," which meant a round topped hill. 1 The surname may have been taken on by someone who lived at such a place, or may have come from one of several places called Knock, in Scotland and Northern England. 2 3

Early Origins of the Knox family

The surname Knox was first found in Renfrewshire where the family is derived through the Crawfords "rom Adam son of Uchtred, who in the reign of Alexander II received from Walter the Steward the lands of Knock in the barony of Renfrew. The lands were named from the remarkable prominence there called "The Knock." The s is English plural. In 1234 the land of Cnoc in Renfrewshire was held under the abbot of Paisley by Duugallus filius Cristini and Matilda his spouse, who claimed lands in Kilpatrick as heirs of Dufgallus, the rector, brother of the earl of Lennox (RMP., p. 178). About 1260 John de Cnoc or Knoc witnessed a charter of the lands of Haldhingleston (Ingliston), Renfrewshire, and in 1272 he witnessed the gift which Sir Antonius Lombardus (Anthony the Lombard) made to Paisley of his right in the lands of Fulton to the Abbey of Paisley (ibid., p. 51, 58). In the following year he witnessed, along with William de Knoc, a grant of lands by Malcolm, earl of Lennox to the same Abbey." 4

Early History of the Knox family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knox research. Another 449 words (32 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1230, 1272, 1280, 1311, 1328, 1330, 1345, 1407, 1408, 1426, 1460, 1463, 1464, 1468, 1475, 1480, 1493, 1505, 1549, 1555, 1558, 1559, 1560, 1565, 1567, 1570, 1572, 1592, 1594, 1597, 1605, 1613, 1615, 1621, 1623, 1633, 1640, 1641, 1654, 1655, 1656, 1658, 1659, 1661, 1662, 1679, 1680, 1688, 1720, 1721, 1764, 1775, 1786, 1790, 1791, 1797, 1810, 1812, 1815, 1834, 1837, 1840, 1842, 1862, 1883 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Knox History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knox Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Knox, Knock, Knocks and others.

Early Notables of the Knox family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Knox World Ranking

In the United States, the name Knox is the 641st most popular surname with an estimated 47,253 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Knox is ranked the 765th most popular surname with an estimated 5,084 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Knox is the 602nd popular surname with an estimated 1,195 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Knox as 746th with 8,967 people. 8

Migration of the Knox family to Ireland

Some of the Knox family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Knox migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Knox Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Knox Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Knox migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Knox Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Knox Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Knox migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Knox Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Knox migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Knox Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Knox migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18
Knox Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
Knox Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Knox (post 1700) +


The Knox 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: Moveo et proficior
Motto Translation: I proceed and am more prosperous.


Suggested Readings for the name Knox +
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