Knabe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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."

Early Origins of the Knabe family

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.

Early History of the Knabe family

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.

Knabe Spelling Variations

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.

Early Notables of the Knabe family

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.

Knabe migration to the United States +

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:

Knabe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter Knabe, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 1
Hans Michael Knabe, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 1
Friederich Henrich Knabe, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 1
Johannes Knabe, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 1
Gottlieb Knabe, who landed in America in 1780 1

Knabe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Friedrich Knabe, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 1
Friedrich Anton Knabe, who arrived in America in 1854 1
Christian Knabe, who landed in New Jersey in 1854 1
Johann Georg Ferdinand Knabe, who landed in America in 1854 1
Johanne Christiane Knabe, who arrived in America in 1854 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knabe migration to Australia +

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

Knabe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

August Christian Knabe, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Steinwaerder" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Knabe (post 1700) +

Don Knabe (b. 1944), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2004 3
Wilhelm Knabe (1923-2021), German ecologist, pacifist, civil servant and politician, founding member of the Green Party in Germany

Historic Events for the Knabe family +

Bismarck

Werner Knabe (1919-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4
Fritz Knabe (1903-1941), German Maschinenmaat Res. who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4

Citations +

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEINWARDER 1849 aka STEINWAERDER. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Steinwarder.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details