Knowler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Knowler finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxons of England. It was given to one who worked as a person who held the responsibility of sounding a bell. The surname originally derived from the Old English word Kneller which referred to a Knoller or the toller of the bell. Occupational names that were derived from the common trades of the medieval era transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries. Occupational names have remained fairly common in the modern period. This is attested to by the continuing appearance of occupational suffixes at the end of many English surnames. Some of these suffixes include: herd, monger, maker, hewer, smith, and wright.

Early Origins of the Knowler family

The surname Knowler was first found in Kent, where they held a family seat from early times.

Early History of the Knowler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knowler research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1618, 1691, 1699, 1743 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Knowler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knowler Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Knowler has been recorded under many different variations, including Knowler, Knoller, Knollman Knowleman and others.

Early Notables of the Knowler family

Distinguished members of the family include

William Knowler, (1699-1773), and English divine, son of Reverend Gilbert Knowler, a renowned 18th century theologian and chaplain to the Marquis of Rockingham

Knowler migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Knowler or a variant listed above:

Knowler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Knowler, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 1

Knowler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Knowler, who landed in Virginia in 1713 1
William Knowler went to Virginia in 1713

Knowler migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Knowler Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

John Knowler who sailed in the First Fleet to arrive in Australia in 1788

Knowler 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:

Knowler Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Amelia Knowler, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
Mr. William Knowler, (b. 1855), aged 19, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 2
Henry Knowler, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
Martha A. Knowler, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
Henry Knowler, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html