NameCensus.

UK surname

Knapp

A topographic surname of German origin, referring to someone who lived on a hilltop or mountain peak.

In the 1881 census there were 2,038 people recorded with the Knapp surname, ranking it #2,159 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,500, ranked #2,645, down from #2,159 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Blaenau Gwent and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knapp is 2,718 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.7%.

1881 census count

2,038

Ranked #2,159

Modern count

2,500

2016, ranked #2,645

Peak year

2002

2,718 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Knapp had 2,038 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,159 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,500 in 2016, ranked #2,645.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,680 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Knapp surname distribution map

The map shows where the Knapp surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Knapp surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Knapp over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,290 #2,222
1861 historical 1,200 #2,370
1881 historical 2,038 #2,159
1891 historical 2,028 #2,276
1901 historical 2,475 #2,206
1911 historical 2,680 #1,927
1997 modern 2,625 #2,427
1998 modern 2,707 #2,449
1999 modern 2,708 #2,462
2000 modern 2,686 #2,467
2001 modern 2,610 #2,477
2002 modern 2,718 #2,440
2003 modern 2,619 #2,468
2004 modern 2,598 #2,486
2005 modern 2,572 #2,478
2006 modern 2,546 #2,507
2007 modern 2,566 #2,509
2008 modern 2,532 #2,558
2009 modern 2,569 #2,583
2010 modern 2,642 #2,577
2011 modern 2,618 #2,564
2012 modern 2,521 #2,608
2013 modern 2,569 #2,605
2014 modern 2,565 #2,623
2015 modern 2,533 #2,623
2016 modern 2,500 #2,645

Geography

Back to top

Where Knapps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lambeth and Thornbury, Rockhampton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Blaenau Gwent, Hastings and Guildford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Thornbury, Rockhampton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 002 Sevenoaks
2 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
3 Blaenau Gwent 002 Blaenau Gwent
4 Hastings 011 Hastings
5 Guildford 018 Guildford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Knapp

These lists show first names that appear often with the Knapp surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Knapp

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Knapp, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Knapp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Knapp household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Knapp is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Knapp is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Knapp falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Knapp is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Knapp, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Knapp

The surname Knapp is of Germanic origin, specifically derived from the Old English and Old German words "cnapa" or "knappr," meaning "boy" or "servant." It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a male attendant or servant, often in a knightly or military context.

The earliest recorded instances of the Knapp surname can be traced back to the 11th century in various regions of Germany and England. It was particularly prevalent in areas such as Saxony, Westphalia, and Essex, where it was often associated with landowners or nobility who employed servants.

One of the earliest known mentions of the Knapp surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, including "Cnape" and "Knappe," reflecting its Germanic roots.

Throughout history, the Knapp surname has been associated with several notable individuals. In the 13th century, a German knight named Johann von Knapp was known for his service to the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194-1250). In England, Sir John Knapp (c. 1370-1438) was a prominent military commander and courtier during the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V.

Another noteworthy figure was Sebastian Knapp (1499-1567), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He served as a professor at the University of Tübingen and authored several influential works on theology and church history.

In the 18th century, Samuel L. Knapp (1784-1838) was an American author, editor, and biographer who wrote extensively about the American Revolution and its key figures. His work, "The Life of Thomas Paine," published in 1835, remains a valuable historical resource.

More recently, the American writer and environmentalist Caroline Knapp (1959-2002) gained recognition for her candid memoirs exploring addiction and recovery, including "Drinking: A Love Story" and "Appetites: Why Women Want."

While the Knapp surname has evolved over time, its Germanic origins as an occupational name for a servant or attendant remain a significant part of its historical background.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Knapp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knapp surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 323 Knapps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 323 1.62x
Surrey 237 2.44x
Hampshire 182 4.46x
Wiltshire 139 7.89x
Leicestershire 135 6.12x
Berkshire 131 8.77x
Gloucestershire 125 3.20x
Kent 107 1.58x
Sussex 89 2.65x
Essex 54 1.37x
Yorkshire 51 0.26x
Devon 47 1.13x
Oxfordshire 38 3.09x
Norfolk 35 1.14x
Nottinghamshire 34 1.27x
Northamptonshire 33 1.76x
Somerset 27 0.84x
Glamorgan 25 0.72x
Lancashire 24 0.10x
Warwickshire 21 0.42x
Staffordshire 20 0.30x
Derbyshire 18 0.58x
Dorset 18 1.38x
Cornwall 16 0.71x
Lincolnshire 16 0.50x
Monmouthshire 16 1.11x
Buckinghamshire 14 1.16x
Worcestershire 9 0.35x
Ayrshire 7 0.47x
Fife 6 0.51x
Huntingdonshire 6 1.52x
Suffolk 6 0.25x
Angus 5 0.27x
Bedfordshire 4 0.39x
Lanarkshire 4 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.37x
Flintshire 3 0.56x
Brecknockshire 2 0.50x
Midlothian 2 0.08x
Northumberland 2 0.07x
Rutland 2 1.37x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.12x
Durham 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.07x
Shropshire 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thornbury in Gloucestershire leads with 38 Knapps recorded in 1881 and an index of 142.32x.

Place Total Index
Thornbury 38 142.32x
Chelsea London 37 6.17x
Lambeth 36 2.07x
Shrivenham 35 472.97x
Camberwell 34 2.67x
Newington 33 4.49x
Kibworth Beauchamp 29 379.09x
Kensington London 26 2.35x
Great Somerford 23 613.33x
Swindon 22 16.11x
Islington London 21 1.09x
Leicester St Margaret 21 3.90x
Sutton At Hone 21 149.04x
Hackney London 20 1.79x
St Marylebone London 20 1.88x
New Windsor 19 37.82x
Bermondsey 17 2.87x
Bromley London 17 3.88x
Hammersmith London 17 3.47x
Lewisham 17 4.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 17 4.24x
Bradfield 16 202.28x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 16 4.35x
Portsea 16 2.00x
Andover 15 38.91x
Barking 15 13.04x
Southampton St Mary 15 5.85x
St Pancras London 15 0.94x
Wroxham 15 581.40x
Bristol St George 14 7.75x
Great Bedwin 14 111.91x
Ryde 14 15.97x
Spondon 14 116.76x
Fawley 13 100.46x
Fulham London 13 4.50x
Paddington London 13 1.78x
Sheffield 13 2.07x
Tormoham 13 7.41x
West Ham 13 1.50x
Westminster St John 13 5.36x
Aldershot 12 8.78x
Mile End Old Town 12 3.82x
Shoreditch London 12 1.39x
East Woodhay 11 105.57x
Oxford St Clement 11 35.45x
Woodmancote 11 466.10x
Brokenborough 10 396.83x
Gaddesby 10 609.76x
Highclere 10 389.11x
Skelton In Guisbrough 10 18.74x
Titchfield 10 32.51x
Albury 9 101.69x
Bromham 9 113.49x
Chertsey 9 14.36x
Collyweston 9 305.08x
Croydon 9 1.67x
Deptford St Paul 9 1.72x
Hawkhurst 9 42.63x
Kingston On Thames 9 3.86x
Lea Cleverton 9 286.62x
Preston 9 15.35x
Reading St Giles 9 6.14x
Sandwich St Mary 9 146.10x
Selston 9 30.03x
St Ann Blackfriars 9 327.27x
Wanborough 9 149.50x
Wick Abson 9 150.50x
Withycombe Rawleigh 9 41.69x
Arreton 8 61.12x
Barnack 8 200.50x
Birmingham 8 0.48x
Castle Church 8 19.81x
Chadwell Wycombe 8 1095.89x
Clerkenwell London 8 1.70x
Forest Gate 8 146.79x
Kingsclere 8 42.92x
Knaptoft 8 2162.16x
Llantwit Lower 8 26.26x
Wokingham 8 23.45x
Wye 8 76.05x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Knapp surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 116
Elizabeth 81
Sarah 69
Emma 39
Alice 35
Jane 35
Ellen 33
Emily 32
Ann 31
Louisa 25
Annie 23
Eliza 20
Charlotte 18
Catherine 16
Harriett 16
Martha 16
Frances 15
Hannah 15
Maria 15
Caroline 14
Fanny 14
Harriet 12
Margaret 11
Ada 10
Clara 10
Florence 10
Kate 10
Lucy 9
Anne 8
Edith 8
Rose 8
Susan 8
Amelia 7
Esther 7
Elizth. 6
Agnes 5
Anna 5
Laura 5
Mabel 5
Rosa 5
Beatrice 4
Bessie 4
Ella 4
Ethel 4
Flora 4
Georgina 4
Minnie 4
Rebecca 4
Sophia 4
Julia 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Knapp surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 132
George 82
John 82
Thomas 65
James 60
Charles 54
Henry 44
Alfred 34
Frederick 30
Arthur 25
Albert 24
Edward 22
Joseph 22
Richard 19
Robert 19
Edwin 18
Harry 14
Samuel 13
Walter 13
Francis 10
Frank 9
Ernest 8
Stephen 7
Wm. 7
Herbert 6
David 5
Willm. 5
Chas. 4
Christopher 4
Jacob 4
Leonard 4
Moses 4
Amos 3
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Decimus 2
Fred. 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Isaac 2
Jasper 2
Jeremiah 2
Louis 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Phillip 2

FAQ

Knapp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Knapp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,038 people were recorded with the Knapp surname. That placed it at #2,159 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Knapp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,500 in 2016. That gives Knapp a modern rank of #2,645.

What does the Knapp surname mean?

A topographic surname of German origin, referring to someone who lived on a hilltop or mountain peak.

What does the Knapp map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Knapp bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.