Knapps History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Germany

Etymology of Knapps

The name Knapps 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. Knapps is a nickname surname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Knapps is a name for a young person or for a person who had a youthful appearance. The surname Knapps was originally derived from the German word "knappe," which means "young."

Early Origins of the Knapps family

Early History of the Knapps family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knapps research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1777, 1798, 1842 and 1926 are included under the topic Early Knapps History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knapps Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Knapps include Knapp, Knap, Knappe, Knape, Knaap, Knaapp, Knapper, Knaper and many more.

Early Notables of the Knapps family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Knapps Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.