Knatchbull History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Knatchbull. It was given to a brave and strong person. The surname Knatchbull originally derived from the Old English words Knatch which meant to strike and Bull which referred to the animal bull. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

Early Origins of the Knatchbull family

The surname Knatchbull was first found in Kent where one of the first records of the name was John Knatchbull who held lands in the parish of Limme in the reign of Edward III. 1 "The main branch was at Mersham-Hatch, by purchase temp. Henry VII and there the present Baronet yet resides." 2

Early History of the Knatchbull family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knatchbull research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1636, 1660, 1674, 1685, 1690, 1696, 1712 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Knatchbull History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knatchbull Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Knatchbull has appeared include Knatchbull, Knatchpole, Knatchpoole and others.

Early Notables of the Knatchbull family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir Norton Knatchbull, 1st Baronet of Mersham Hatch (1602-1685), an English politician, founder of The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford
Sir John Knatchbull, 2nd Baronet (c.1636-1696), an English landowner and politician, Member of Parliament for New Romney (1660), Commissioner to the Lord Privy Seal (1690)
Sir Thomas Knatchbull, 3rd Baronet (d. 1712)

Knatchbull 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. 3

Knatchbull Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Knatchbull, who settled in Barbados with his servants in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Knatchbull (post 1700) +

Sir Edward Knatchbull (1781-1849), 9th Baronet, British Conservative Party politician
Michael Herbert Rudolf Knatchbull (1895-1939), 5th Baron Brabourne, British peer and soldier
John Ulick Knatchbull CBE (1924-2005), 7th Baron Brabourne, British peer, television producer and Academy-award nominated film producer
Doreen Knatchbull (1896-1979), Baroness Brabourne, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat

The Knatchbull 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: In crucifixa gloria mea
Motto Translation: My glory is in the cross.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies