Show ContentsKnight History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Knight Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Knight

What does the name Knight mean?

The ancient name of Knight finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for a knight, who was usually a feudal tenant deriving its origin from the Old English word cniht, which means knight. The word cniht also means servant and common soldier. Knighthood was established as a military profession by the 10th century. With the Norman Conquest and the resultant changes in the social order, knighthood became an established feudal rank, directly under that of a Baron. It was associated with the holding of land, but was not hereditary. Because land was hereditary and knighthood was not, there grew up a body of landless knights, who often banded together into military orders, such as the Knights Templar, and the Knights Hospitalers. As time went by, cavalry decreased in importance in warfare and the excesses of the Knights Templar brought the institution of knighthood into disrepute. The Knights Templar were suppressed by Pope Clement V in 1312. By the 16th century knighthood became a civil distinction.

Early Origins of the Knight family

The surname Knight was first found in Suffolk where one of the first records of the name was John le Cnitht who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls also lists: Gilbert le Knyt in Cambridgeshire; Roger le Knith in Oxfordshire; and Ellis le Knyght in Wiltshire.

The surname was "well distributed over England south of a line drawn from the Humber to the Dee. In the northern part of England it is singularly rare. Sussex stands foremost for the number of its Knights, and after it come, in their order, Hants, Leicestershire and Rutland, and Gloucestershire. In Norfolk and Suffolk we have the form of Knights." 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Johannes Knyght; Willelmus Kneyte; Thomas Knycht: and Willelmus Knygth. 2 Some of the family were found in Scotland in early times. Robert dictus Knycht was burgess of Abirbrothoc and had a charter of a piece of land in Aberbrothoc in 1331. In 1435, John Knycht was canon of Brechin and rector of Funewyn (Finhaven.) He is probably the John Knycht who appears on an inquest on the lands of Tulloch in 1438. 3

More recently some of the family held estates at Aston-Sub-Edge in Gloucestershire. "Norton-Burnt House, so called from the greater portion of it having been destroyed by fire while the seat of Sir William Knight, Bart., is the property of the Earl of Harrowby." 4

Another branch was found at Letwell in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "The family seat of the Knights, here, an ancient house, was taken down by the late Mr. Gally Knight when he removed his residence, a few years since, to the mansion at Firbeck; but the offices, with the gardens and pleasure-grounds, in the latter of which is an extensive lake, are still remaining." 4

To the far south and west in Stoke-Climsland, Cornwall, in early days the Knight family had a family seat at Aldren. 5

Early History of the Knight family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knight research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1182, 1605, 1606, 1612, 1619, 1660, 1673, 1683, 1686, 1691 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Knight History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knight Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Knight family name include Knight, Knights and others.

Early Notables of the Knight family

  • Sir William Knight, Ambassador to Maximilian
  • John Knight (died 1606), Scottish mariner and commander of an expedition off the coast of Greenland in 1605, he named Knight's Islands there
  • Sir John Knight (1612-1683), "the elder" an English merchant and politician, Member of Parliament for Bristol (1660), Mayor of Bristol
  • Sir John Knight (died 1718), "the younger," an English merchant and politician
  • Sir Ralph Knight (c 1619-1691), an English soldier and politician, Member of Parliament for Morpeth in 1660, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Duke of Buckingham's Regiment of Foot in 1673
  • on the infamous side, William Knight (c. fl. 1686), a 17th century English buccaneer

Knight World Ranking

the United States, the name Knight is the 155th most popular surname with an estimated 149,220 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Knight is ranked the 364th most popular surname with an estimated 12,561 people with that name. 7 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Knight is the 294th popular surname with an estimated 153 people with that name. 8 Australia ranks Knight as 103rd with 25,623 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Knight as 151st with 3,322 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Knight as 95th with 50,014 people. 11

Knight migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Knight surname or a spelling variation of the name include :

Knight Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Benjamin Knight, aged 28, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Bona Nova" 13
  • John Knight, who settled in Virginia in 1623
  • Richard Knight, who settled in Virginia in 1623
  • Mordecay Knight, who arrived in Virginia in 1624-1625 aboard the ship "William and John" 14
  • Walter Knight, who landed in Massachusetts in 1624 aboard the ship "Zouch Phoenix" 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Knight Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Henry Knight, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 14
  • Frances Knight, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 14
  • Joseph Knight, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 14
  • Jung Peter Knight, aged 31, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 14
  • Jacob Knight, aged 36, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Knight Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Knight, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 14
  • Daniel Knight, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 14
  • David Knight, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 14
  • Abraham Knight, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1812 14
  • James Knight, who landed in New York in 1827 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Knight Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Elias Knight, (b. 1876), aged 24, Cornish labourer, from St Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th September 1900 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA 15
  • Mr. Joseph Henry Knight, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish miner, from Scorrier, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th July 1900 en route to Marquette, Michigan, USA 15
  • Mrs. Ellen Knight, (b. 1847), aged 56, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th December 1903 en route to Carthage, Missouri, USA 15
  • Mr. Samuel D. Knight, (b. 1846), aged 57, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th December 1903 en route to Carthage, Missouri, USA 15
  • Mr. Marshall G. Knight, (b. 1883), aged 21, Cornish blacksmith travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th June 1904 en route to Los Angeles, California, USA 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knight migration to Canada +

Knight Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jane Knight, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Mr. Knight John U.E. born in Abington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA from Abington, Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Beaver Harbour, Pennfield, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada c. 1783 listed as signing the Quaker Loyalist Agreement 16
  • Mr. Knight Joshua U.E. (b. 1731) born in Abington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA from Abington, Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Beaver Harbour, Pennfield, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada c. 1783 listed as signing the Quaker Loyalist Agreement, leader of the Quakers from Abington married to Sarah Tyson having 10 children, he died in 1801 16
  • Mr. Knight Joshua Jr., U.E. born in Abington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA from Abington, Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Beaver Harbour, Pennfield, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada c. 1783 listed as signing the Quaker Loyalist Agreement 16
  • Mrs. Knight Sarah U.E. born in Abington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA from Abington, Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Beaver Harbour, Pennfield, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada c. 1783 listed as signing the Quaker Loyalist Agreement 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Knight Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Frederick Knight, aged 29 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Zealous" departing from the port of London, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 17
  • Mr. Frederick Knight, aged 12 who was a Seaman aboard the ship "Zealous" taking passenger to Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec departing from the port of London, England but died at Grosse Isle on 8th September 1847 in the typhus epidemic 18
  • Mr. James Knight, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Goliah" departing 21st May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 18th July 1847 but he died on board 19

Knight migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. William Knight, (1763 - 1816), aged 26, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 12
  • Mr. William Knight, (b. 1760), aged 29, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
Second Fleet
Third Fleet
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Knight Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Knight Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Knight, British Convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Mr. William Knight, British Convict who was convicted in Berkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Miss Grace Knight, (1794 - 1856), aged 11, British settler  who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for stealing handkerchiefs, transported aboard the  "Fortune And Alexander" on 31st December 1805, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 22
  • Miss Hannah Knight, (b. 1794), aged 16, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1832 23
  • Mr. William Knight, (b. 1775), aged 40, English labourer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 24
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knight 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:

Knight Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Knight, aged 39, a miner, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 25
  • Mary Ann Knight, aged 36, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 25
  • Mary Anne Knight, aged 12, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 25
  • James Knight, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 25
  • John Knight, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 25
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Knight 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. 26
Knight Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Edmond Knight, (b. 1613), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 14
  • Mr. Thomas Knight, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 27
  • Mr. William Knight, (b. 1622), aged 13, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 27
  • Thomas Knight, who settled in St. Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635
  • John Knight, who settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Knight (post 1700) +

  • Jeremiah "Boogie" Knight (b. 1999), American football wide receiver for the Mexicas de la Ciudad de México of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA)
  • Tony Knight (1970-2024), American comedian and "Dog Listener" tragically killed while attending the Rock’&’Cars Festival in Lavaur, France
  • Robert Montgomery "Bob" Knight (1940-2023), American men's college basketball coach, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006
  • Tonya Knight (1966-2023), American professional female bodybuilder, inducted into the 2011 IFBB Hall of Fame
  • William Frederick Knight (1933-2022), American voice actor who was often cast in the role of a wise old man, in Ghost in the Shell, The Big O, Paranoia Agent and Eureka Seven
  • Jack Knight (1993-2022), born Jakim Seeallah Maulana, an American actor, comedian and writer, best known for his roles as Devon in the animated Netflix sitcom Big Mouth and Jak in the Peacock comedy series Bust Down
  • Goodwin Jess Knight (1896-1970), American Republican politician, Superior Court Judge in California, 1935-46; Lieutenant Governor of California, 1947-53; Governor of California, 1953-59 28
  • Charles F. Knight (1936-2017), American business executive, Chairman of Emerson Electric Co (1974-2004)
  • Robert Knight (1945-2017), born Robert Peebles, an American singer best known for the 1967 recording of the song "Everlasting Love"
  • ... (Another 178 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Robert Knight, British Butcher from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 29
  • Mr. C.  Knight, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 30
  • Mrs. Minnie  Knight (1895-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 31
  • Mr. Neil Kenneth Knight (1921-1941), Australian Steward from Midland Junction, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 31
  • Roy Mackenzie Knight (d. 1942), British Ordinary Seaman aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 32
  • ... (Another 24 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Knight +

  • A Genealogy of Some Early Missouri Settlers by Donald Jack Knight.
  • Kennard, King, Knight, Hardin, Goodin by Alta Kennard Patterrson.
  1. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  8. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  13. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  14. 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)
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  16. 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
  17. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 38)
  18. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 62)
  19. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 83)
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  23. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  24. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  25. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  27. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  28. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2017, April 12) Goodwin Knight. Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  29. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  30. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  31. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  32. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A

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