NameCensus.

UK surname

Kneller

A German surname possibly derived from the word "knellen" meaning to ring a bell.

In the 1881 census there were 316 people recorded with the Kneller surname, ranking it #9,375 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 714, ranked #7,599, up from #9,375 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Basildon, Lewes and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kneller is 838 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 125.9%.

1881 census count

316

Ranked #9,375

Modern count

714

2016, ranked #7,599

Peak year

2000

838 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kneller had 316 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,375 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016, ranked #7,599.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 592 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kneller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kneller surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kneller 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 167 #11,936
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 316 #9,375
1891 historical 393 #8,995
1901 historical 504 #8,006
1911 historical 592 #6,912
1997 modern 770 #6,736
1998 modern 790 #6,824
1999 modern 807 #6,741
2000 modern 838 #6,531
2001 modern 806 #6,615
2002 modern 809 #6,712
2003 modern 801 #6,645
2004 modern 775 #6,843
2005 modern 738 #7,050
2006 modern 731 #7,126
2007 modern 736 #7,168
2008 modern 739 #7,185
2009 modern 737 #7,351
2010 modern 753 #7,360
2011 modern 748 #7,322
2012 modern 738 #7,316
2013 modern 757 #7,289
2014 modern 757 #7,317
2015 modern 735 #7,438
2016 modern 714 #7,599

Geography

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Where Knellers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Portsmouth, Portsea and King's Sombourn (incl. Upper Eldon), Little Sombourn, Stockbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Basildon, Lewes, Southampton and Rother. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 King's Sombourn (incl. Upper Eldon), Little Sombourn, Stockbridge Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Basildon 010 Basildon
2 Lewes 011 Lewes
3 Southampton 026 Southampton
4 Rother 001 Rother
5 Lewes 013 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kneller

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kneller

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kneller, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kneller is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Kneller is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kneller 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 Kneller is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kneller

The surname Kneller is of German origin, derived from the word 'kneller,' which means a ringer of bells or a bell-ringer. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the 14th century in various German records and manuscripts. One notable mention is found in the "Stadtbücher" (city books) of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Kneller is listed as a bell-ringer in the year 1387.

The surname later spread to other parts of Europe, particularly to neighboring regions such as Austria and Switzerland, where variations in spelling, such as Knöller and Knöllner, emerged.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Gottfried Kneller (1646-1723), a German-born painter who became the court painter to British monarchs and is renowned for his portraits of notable figures of the time, including King William III and Queen Anne.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), who was not only a renowned portrait painter but also the founder of the Kneller Hall, a prestigious military academy in Twickenham, England.

The Kneller family also left its mark in the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Johann Kneller, who immigrated to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century from the German Palatinate region.

Other notable figures with the surname Kneller include Karl Kneller (1838-1885), a German-born American architect known for his work on various public buildings in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Philipp Kneller (1892-1966), a German artist and painter recognized for his landscape and genre paintings.

Throughout history, the surname Kneller has been associated with various professions, from bell-ringers and artisans to artists and architects, reflecting the diverse origins and adaptations of this name across different regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kneller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kneller 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. Hampshire leads with 142 Knellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.48x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 142 22.48x
Middlesex 64 2.08x
Kent 38 3.61x
Surrey 24 1.60x
Lancashire 14 0.38x
Sussex 14 2.69x
Essex 12 1.97x
Yorkshire 3 0.10x
Somerset 2 0.40x
Bedfordshire 1 0.63x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hound in Hampshire leads with 14 Knellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 326.34x.

Place Total Index
Hound 14 326.34x
Tonbridge 14 36.91x
South Stoneham 13 94.89x
Bromley London 12 17.70x
Portsea 12 9.69x
Southampton St Mary 11 27.69x
Lockerley 10 1587.30x
Bighton 9 3750.00x
Kings Somborne 9 676.69x
Speldhurst 9 168.22x
Battersea 8 7.05x
Church Oakley 8 2580.65x
Poplar London 8 13.75x
West Ham 8 5.96x
Ratcliffe London 7 41.13x
Ropley 7 760.87x
Bethnal Green London 6 4.48x
Broughton 6 631.58x
Colne 6 55.05x
East Grinstead 6 81.52x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 54.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 9.67x
St Marylebone London 6 3.65x
St Thomas Winchester 6 134.53x
Chilbolton 5 1388.89x
Greenwich 5 10.19x
Southampton All Sts 5 46.13x
Widnes 5 18.95x
Brixton 4 769.23x
Lambeth 4 1.49x
Leyton Low 4 32.34x
Limehouse London 4 11.82x
St Pancras London 4 1.61x
Chiddingstone 3 218.98x
Elland Cum Greetland 3 21.80x
Kensington London 3 1.75x
Martyr Worthy 3 1153.85x
Mile End Old Town 3 6.17x
Mottisfont 3 545.45x
Shalden 3 1363.64x
Weeke 3 157.07x
Alton 2 42.02x
Bedminster 2 4.29x
Christchurch 2 14.60x
Hastings St Mary 2 15.47x
Isleworth 2 14.60x
Maidstone 2 6.38x
Pembury 2 134.23x
Rotherhithe 2 5.25x
Spitalfields London 2 8.63x
St George Hanover 2 4.97x
Sundridge 2 114.29x
Wigan 2 3.91x
Aldershot 1 4.73x
Alverstoke 1 4.37x
Bedford St Peter 1 24.10x
Borden 1 75.19x
Clapham 1 2.60x
Clifton 1 3.27x
Ewell 1 31.55x
Habergham Eaves 1 2.99x
Hackney London 1 0.58x
Hayes 1 31.75x
Hendon 1 9.02x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.77x
Romsey Extra 1 26.60x
Romsey Infra 1 46.73x
Royal Navy 1 3.18x
Sherborne St John 1 147.06x
Southwark Christchurch 1 6.93x
St Luke London 1 2.02x
St Mary Extra 1 19.69x
St Maurice Winchester 1 38.02x
Westminster St John 1 2.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Mary 13
Jane 10
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Louisa 7
Maria 7
Sarah 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Charlotte 5
Harriet 5
Annie 4
Florence 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Mabel 3
Emily 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Keterine 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Cassey 1
Christine 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth.Charlotte 1
Emly 1
Frances 1
Frederica 1
Georgina 1
H. 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Isabella 1
Jenny 1
Knele 1
Laura 1
Lena 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Margaret 1
Marget. 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
George 16
Charles 14
John 14
Alfred 11
Henry 8
Thomas 7
Albert 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
James 5
Frederick 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Samuel 3
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Willie 2
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Gottlote 1
Horace 1
Humphrey 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Levi 1
Nathan 1
Noah 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Uriah 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kneller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kneller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 316 people were recorded with the Kneller surname. That placed it at #9,375 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kneller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016. That gives Kneller a modern rank of #7,599.

What does the Kneller surname mean?

A German surname possibly derived from the word "knellen" meaning to ring a bell.

What does the Kneller map show?

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