Contents [hide]

Knapp History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Knapp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The origins of the Knapp name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Knapp was originally derived from a family having lived one of several places named Knapp in England. The word knapp comes from the Old English "cnoepp," meaning a hilltop or summit. 1

Early Origins of the Knapp family

The surname Knapp was first found in Cambridgeshire where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list John Cnape as holding estates there at that time. The same rolls also list John Knapp, Buckinghamshire. Kirby's Quest lists Margaret atte Cnappe in Somerset, temp. Edward I. 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Johannes Knape and Johannes Knaype. 3

William atte Kneppe was listed in Place Names of Surrey in 1294, Henry de Cnappe was listed in Place Names of Devon in 1301. 4

Another source notes: "Knapp is an old south of England name. In the 14th century an influential family of Bristol citizens bore this name. Knapp was the name of an ancient gentle family of Berkshire, a branch of which two centuries ago came into the possession of the manor of Little Linford, Buckinghamshire." 5

By way of confirmation of the aforementioned: "About 1658, [Little Linford] was purchased by Messrs. Kilpin and others, by whom it was sold to an ancestor of the Knapp family." The family held the parish since this early entry as in the late 1800's the source notes "The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £66; patron and impropriator, Matthew Knapp, Esq., lord of the manor." 6

The medieval Knepp Castle is found west of the village of West Grinstead in West Sussex. Built on a mound or "cnoepp," the castle was originally a motte and bailey fortress, built in the 12th century by William de Braose. In 1214, he had it rebuilt as a stone castle with a two-storey keep. Later Royal visitors included kings Henry III in 1218, Edward II in 1324 and Richard II in 1384.

Farther to the south in the parish of St. Winnow, Cornwall, the family of Knapman once held Trevegoe, which later became a farm house. But, the heiress of the family married into the Hawkey family and subsequently passed the manor to them. 7

Early History of the Knapp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knapp research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1279, 1294, 1301, 1648, 1681, 1698 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Knapp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knapp Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Knapp include Knapp, Knappe, Knap, Knapper, Knapp, Knapman, Knappen, Kneppe, Knape, Knappen, Cnape, Cnappe and many more.

Early Notables of the Knapp family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

William Knapp, (1698-1768), an English musical composer from Wareham, Dorset

Knapp Ranking

In the United States, the name Knapp is the 769^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Knapp family to Ireland

Some of the Knapp family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knapp migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Knapp Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Knapp of Suffolk, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
Mrs. Elinor Knapp of Suffolk arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 9
Mr. William Knapp of Suffolk, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 9
Mrs. Knapp, wife of William, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 9
John Knapp of Suffolk, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knapp Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Knapp, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1753
Frederick Knapp, who arrived in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1763 10
Philip Henrich Knapp, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1771 10
Jacob Knapp, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1792 10

Knapp Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Knapp, who landed in America in 1800 10
Samuel Knapp, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 10
Mr. Peter Knapp, aged 28, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
Genofefa Knapp, aged 23, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
Mr. Peter Anton Knapp, aged 28, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knapp migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Knapp Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Private Knapp Benjamin U.E. (b. 1761) who settled in Western District [The townships of Essex County and Kent County], Ontario c. 1784 he served as Lieutenant in Colonel Butlers Company of the Corps Rangers, married Katherine having 10 children he died in Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1823 11
Mr. Knapp Joseph U.E. (b. 1743) born in New York, USA who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 he died in 1836 in Montague Township, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada 11
Mr. Knapp Moses U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 he was a member of the Reading Association 11

Knapp Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Knapp, who arrived in Canada in 1828
Ann Knapp, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
Henry Knapp, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
James Knapp, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Knapp migration to Australia +

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

Knapp Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Georgina Knapp, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 12
Thomas James Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 13
Georgian Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 13
George Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 13
Eliza Alldin Knapp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knapp 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:

Knapp Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Knapp, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Olympus
James Knapp, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
Ellen Knapp, aged 17, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
Mr. George Knapp, (b. 1833), aged 20, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd December 1853 14
Mr. Charles E. Knapp, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gypsy" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th October 1856 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Knapp (post 1700) +

Jacob Richard "Jake" Knapp (b. 1994), American professional golfer, winner of the Mexico Open, Feb 25, 2024, Canada Life Open, May 26, 2019, GolfBC Championship Jun 16, 2019
Gwen Knapp (1961-2023), born Mary Gwen Knapp, an American sports journalist, contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Examiner, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The New York Times, one of the few female sports columnists at major metropolitan newspapers in the 1990s
Gregory Fishbeck "Greg" Knapp (1963-2021), American NFL football assistant coach for 25 seasons with the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks
Wilmot E. Knapp, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Chemung County, 1914 15
William F. Knapp, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1908 15
William C. Knapp, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1912 15
William Knapp, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 4th District, 1964 15
Walter W. Knapp, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1928, 1932; Candidate for Michigan State Senate 14th District, 1932 15
W. J. H. Knapp, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of St. Albans, West Virginia, 1941-42 15
V. K. Knapp (b. 1913), American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State Senate 4th District, 1963-72 15
... (Another 94 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Knapp family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Douglas John Knapp (1923-1941), Australian Stoker 2nd Class from Altona, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 16

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARTLEY 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Hartley.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN from London 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840John.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp