Knees History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Knees

What does the name Knees mean?

The spelling and overall form of Irish names tend to vary widely. The original Gaelic form of the name Knees is Mac Neidhe, which is derived from the word niadh, which means champion.

Early Origins of the Knees family

The surname Knees was first found in County Down (Irish:An Dún) part of the Province of Ulster, in Northern Ireland, formerly known as county St Mirren, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Knees family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knees research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1037 is included under the topic Early Knees History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knees Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, a name was often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer. Literacy was rare at that time and none of the languages to be found in the British Isles had achieved any great semblance of standardization. Variations of the name Knees found include MacNee, MacNea, MacNay, MacKnee, MacNeigh, MacNia, Nee, Knee and many more.

Early Notables of the Knees family

More information is included under the topic Early Knees Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Knees family

Ireland experienced a dramatic decrease in its population during the late 19th century. This was in a great measure, a response to England's imperialistic policies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many Irish people and many more chose to leave their homeland to escape such hunger and disease. North America with its promise of work, freedom, and land was an extremely popular destination for Irish families. For those families that survived the journey, all three of these things were were often attained through much hard work and perseverance. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Knees: Alexander McNay settled in San Francisco in 1852; Martin, Lawrence, John and James McNee settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870. Members of the family settled in Newfoundland, where William Knee was born in 1821..