Knoke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Knoke is thought to come from the Middle English phrase "atten okes," meaning "at the oaks;" as such it was likely originally a name for someone who lived by some oak trees. 1

"Aten Oke and Atten Oke were the original forms. When the preposition began to be dropped from this class of surnames, the final N in this instance adhered to the designation of the tree, and we obtained the form Noake, since pluralized into Noakes." 2

Early Origins of the Knoke family

The surname Knoke was first found in Buckinghamshire where they held a family seat. This ancient Saxon name in derived from common usage from atte en Oak, a place designation, which originated in those counties surrounding London known as the home counties. including Sussex, Essex, and others. 3 4

By 1326 the name was well entrenched in that region and Richard Attenok is recording with estates in Buckingham in 1275, and was succeeded by Richard Noke. 1

John atte Noke was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327 and Robert atte Nokes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1332. 5

Early History of the Knoke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knoke research. Another 43 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1662, 1690, 1692, 1719 and 1737 are included under the topic Early Knoke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knoke Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nokes, Noakes, Knoakes, Noke, Noak, Knoak, Noaks, Nokes, Knokes, Nowkes, Noekes and many more.

Early Notables of the Knoke family

Distinguished members of the family include James Nokes (Noke, Noak, Noakes) (died 1692), an English actor, whose laughter-arousing genius was well known. He was one of the male actors who played female roles in the newly reopened playhouses shortly after the Restoration of Charles II. But, that practice did not last long as in 1662, Charles II ordered that only women should play female roles.William Noake (1690-1737), was a...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Knoke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Knoke family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Jo Nokes, who arrived in Barbados in 1634; Andrew Nokes, who settled in Virginia in 1650; William Nokes, who arrived in Virginia in 1654; George Noakes, who settled in Maryland in 1669.

Contemporary Notables of the name Knoke (post 1700) +

Lawrence Knoke, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Dakota, 1952 6
Heinz Knoke, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 52 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html