NameCensus.

UK surname

Kneeshaw

A locational surname referring to someone residing near a small wooded area.

In the 1881 census there were 261 people recorded with the Kneeshaw surname, ranking it #10,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 364, ranked #12,748, down from #10,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lastingham, Pickering and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Redcar and Cleveland and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kneeshaw is 407 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.5%.

1881 census count

261

Ranked #10,752

Modern count

364

2016, ranked #12,748

Peak year

1911

407 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kneeshaw had 261 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016, ranked #12,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 407 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kneeshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kneeshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kneeshaw 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 203 #10,291
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 261 #10,752
1891 historical 345 #9,944
1901 historical 360 #10,212
1911 historical 407 #9,176
1997 modern 384 #11,336
1998 modern 400 #11,335
1999 modern 386 #11,740
2000 modern 390 #11,623
2001 modern 378 #11,705
2002 modern 383 #11,820
2003 modern 376 #11,791
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 362 #12,066
2006 modern 353 #12,363
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 369 #12,210
2009 modern 381 #12,174
2010 modern 402 #11,949
2011 modern 385 #12,195
2012 modern 369 #12,443
2013 modern 363 #12,815
2014 modern 376 #12,553
2015 modern 366 #12,717
2016 modern 364 #12,748

Geography

Back to top

Where Kneeshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lastingham, Pickering, Leeds, Bradford and Scarborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Redcar and Cleveland, Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Lastingham Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Pickering Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Kingston upon Hull 023 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 008 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 015 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kneeshaw

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kneeshaw

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kneeshaw, 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 Kneeshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kneeshaw 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Kneeshaw is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kneeshaw is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kneeshaw falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kneeshaw 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 Kneeshaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kneeshaw

The surname Kneeshaw originates from England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Kneeshaw, possibly located in the county of Lancashire or Yorkshire. The name itself is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "cneo" meaning "knee" and "sceaga" meaning "shaw" or "small wood."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, where a John de Kneshaw was listed as a taxpayer. The presence of the prefix "de" in this early spelling suggests a connection to a specific place.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various records with slightly different spellings, such as Kneshagh, Kneyshaw, and Kneyshawe, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time.

One notable individual with the surname Kneeshaw was John Kneeshaw, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th century. He was involved in the wool trade and served as Lord Mayor of York in 1592.

During the 17th century, the Kneeshaw family had a presence in the village of Cartmel, located in the historic county of Lancashire. Records from the parish church in Cartmel show several members of the Kneeshaw family being baptized, married, and buried there throughout the 1600s.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname Kneeshaw was William Kneeshaw, a successful businessman and landowner from Yorkshire. He was born in 1725 and made his fortune in the textile industry, eventually acquiring several estates in the region.

Another notable individual was Mary Kneeshaw, a writer and poet who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She published a collection of poems titled "Poetical Effusions" in 1800, which received critical acclaim during her lifetime.

In the 19th century, the name Kneeshaw appeared in various parts of England, with concentrations in the northern counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. One individual of note was John Kneeshaw, a renowned architect born in Manchester in 1835, who designed several notable buildings in the city during the Victorian era.

Throughout its history, the surname Kneeshaw has maintained a strong presence in the regions of northern England, particularly in the counties where it is believed to have originated. While not a widespread name, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, landowners, writers, and architects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kneeshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kneeshaw 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. Yorkshire leads with 248 Kneeshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.83x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 248 9.83x
Northamptonshire 6 2.51x
Berkshire 3 1.57x
Middlesex 2 0.08x
Kent 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Bierley in Yorkshire leads with 43 Kneeshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 315.71x.

Place Total Index
North Bierley 43 315.71x
Hunslet 25 63.55x
Market Weighton Arras 16 975.61x
Pickering 13 408.81x
Scarborough 13 56.72x
Bradford 11 18.01x
North Newbald 10 1754.39x
North Dalton 9 2093.02x
Old Malton 9 566.04x
Slingsby 9 1730.77x
Leeds 8 5.62x
Middlesbrough 7 21.31x
Bridlington 6 103.81x
Farndale East Side 6 1875.00x
Farndale West Side 6 6666.67x
Peterborough 6 34.60x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 5 78.62x
Norton In Malton 5 163.40x
Luttons Ambo 4 769.23x
York St Lawrence 4 152.09x
Hilderthorpe 3 236.22x
New Malton 3 99.34x
Old Windsor 3 135.75x
Rosedale East Side 3 882.35x
Whitby 3 35.29x
York St Giles In 3 126.05x
Drighlington 2 54.35x
Marton Le Moor 2 1333.33x
St Pancras London 2 0.98x
Thwing 2 526.32x
Wyke In Bradford 2 44.35x
Yedingham 2 1666.67x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 12.08x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 11.04x
Clifton In York 1 18.94x
Cloughton 1 208.33x
Dewsbury 1 3.87x
Egton 1 90.09x
Helmsley 1 74.07x
Holy Trinity 1 1.65x
Huttons Ambo 1 277.78x
Kirkby Moorside 1 62.11x
Leyburn 1 117.65x
Middleton On Wolds 1 181.82x
Sheriff Hutton W 1 138.89x
Skiplam 1 2000.00x
Thixendale 1 454.55x
Westow 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Ann 10
Elizabeth 10
Hannah 8
Sarah 8
Annie 6
Jane 6
Emma 5
Margaret 5
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Frances 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Emily 2
...lor 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Charity 1
Clara 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Ida 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Marth 1
May 1
Rebeka 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Selena 1
Susan 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 18
George 8
James 8
Charles 7
Robert 7
Richard 6
Thomas 6
Edward 4
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Amos 1
Bentley 1
Boyes 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Giles 1
Jabez 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Milfred 1
Myrtl 1
Oliver 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wiliam 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Kneeshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kneeshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 261 people were recorded with the Kneeshaw surname. That placed it at #10,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kneeshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016. That gives Kneeshaw a modern rank of #12,748.

What does the Kneeshaw surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone residing near a small wooded area.

What does the Kneeshaw map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kneeshaw 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.