NameCensus.

UK surname

Knibb

An English surname representing an occupational name for a maker of knives.

In the 1881 census there were 332 people recorded with the Knibb surname, ranking it #9,058 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 404, ranked #11,793, down from #9,058 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Quainton, Shipton Lee and Charwelton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Bath and North East Somerset and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knibb is 479 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.7%.

1881 census count

332

Ranked #9,058

Modern count

404

2016, ranked #11,793

Peak year

2002

479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Knibb had 332 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,058 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 404 in 2016, ranked #11,793.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Knibb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Knibb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Knibb 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 239 #9,092
1861 historical 292 #8,626
1881 historical 332 #9,058
1891 historical 351 #9,809
1901 historical 368 #10,057
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 467 #9,788
1998 modern 467 #10,120
1999 modern 471 #10,098
2000 modern 477 #9,989
2001 modern 460 #10,063
2002 modern 479 #9,954
2003 modern 469 #9,940
2004 modern 470 #9,958
2005 modern 444 #10,315
2006 modern 436 #10,506
2007 modern 443 #10,467
2008 modern 448 #10,458
2009 modern 450 #10,669
2010 modern 466 #10,595
2011 modern 453 #10,732
2012 modern 444 #10,775
2013 modern 430 #11,259
2014 modern 415 #11,688
2015 modern 409 #11,713
2016 modern 404 #11,793

Geography

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Where Knibbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Quainton, Shipton Lee, Charwelton, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Leamington Priors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, Bath and North East Somerset, Liverpool, Thanet and Bolton. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Quainton, Shipton Lee Buckinghamshire
3 Charwelton Northamptonshire
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Leamington Priors Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 008 Aylesbury Vale
2 Bath and North East Somerset 007 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Liverpool 004 Liverpool
4 Thanet 003 Thanet
5 Bolton 017 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Knibb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Knibb

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Knibb is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Knibb is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Knibb falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Knibb

The surname Knibb is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cnib," meaning a small hill or knob, indicating that the name was likely originally a topographic name given to someone who lived near a distinctive hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Knibb can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Cnibbe." This suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 11th century in England.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname appeared in various records with spellings such as "Knybbe," "Knybbs," and "Knib." The variations in spelling were common during this era due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The name Knibb is also associated with several place names in England, such as Knibb Farm in Gloucestershire and Knibb Hill in Derbyshire, further reinforcing the topographic origins of the surname.

One notable individual bearing the surname Knibb was William Knibb (1803-1845), an English Baptist missionary and abolitionist who played a significant role in the abolition of slavery in Jamaica. He was born in Gloucestershire and later worked tirelessly to improve the conditions of enslaved Africans in the Caribbean.

Another historical figure with the surname Knibb was John Knibb (1650-1711), an English Baptist minister and author who served as the pastor of the Particular Baptist church in Horsleydown, Southwark.

In the 18th century, Samuel Knibb (1755-1827) was a prominent English engraver and illustrator known for his intricate copperplate engravings, including works for the Bible and other religious publications.

During the 19th century, Edward Knibb (1809-1862) was a notable English architect who designed several buildings in London, including the Royal Society of Medicine's headquarters.

Additionally, Robert Knibb (1853-1900) was a respected English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and was known for his exceptional batting skills.

Throughout its history, the surname Knibb has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the regions of Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, and Oxfordshire, where many families with this surname can be traced back several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Knibb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knibb 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. Warwickshire leads with 94 Knibbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.54x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 94 11.54x
Middlesex 56 1.73x
Northamptonshire 50 16.46x
Buckinghamshire 38 19.47x
Oxfordshire 15 7.52x
Lancashire 13 0.34x
Staffordshire 11 1.01x
Kent 9 0.82x
Surrey 8 0.51x
Berkshire 7 2.89x
Bedfordshire 6 3.59x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.38x
Cheshire 5 0.70x
Somerset 3 0.58x
Worcestershire 2 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.49x
Denbighshire 1 0.82x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.45x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.56x
Leicestershire 1 0.28x
Monmouthshire 1 0.43x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Quainton in Buckinghamshire leads with 31 Knibbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3229.17x.

Place Total Index
Quainton 31 3229.17x
Aston 19 8.47x
Islington London 18 5.75x
Leamington Priors 18 89.82x
Clerkenwell London 17 22.31x
Whitfield 17 7083.33x
Birmingham 16 5.90x
Shoreditch London 11 7.86x
Tanworth 9 418.60x
Northampton Priory St 8 43.91x
St Peters 8 156.86x
Stratford On Avon 8 176.99x
Charwelton 7 3500.00x
Clewer 7 70.49x
Bedford St Mary 6 139.21x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 9.86x
Nottingham St Mary 6 5.33x
Stoke Goldington 6 674.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 5.19x
Stretford 6 28.46x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 20.57x
Neithrop 5 74.63x
Newington 5 4.19x
Everdon 4 645.16x
Fenny Compton 4 615.38x
Southam 4 202.02x
St Marylebone London 4 2.32x
Charlbury 3 133.93x
Kettering 3 24.43x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 22.04x
Bishops Itchington 2 256.41x
Coventry St Michael 2 7.65x
Dukinfield 2 6.07x
Fillongley 2 172.41x
Frodsham 2 72.46x
Hackney London 2 1.10x
Hook Norton 2 147.06x
Kings Norton 2 5.29x
Napton On Hill 2 204.08x
Northampton St Giles 2 17.29x
Tatenhill 2 270.27x
Wollaston 2 119.76x
Bollin Fee 1 31.65x
Byfield 1 113.64x
Canterbury St Paul 1 50.51x
Castle Church 1 15.27x
Chinnor 1 72.46x
Coleshill 1 38.31x
Daventry 1 23.26x
Deddington 1 46.30x
Elsworth 1 135.14x
Gate Fulford 1 13.39x
Grandborough 1 212.77x
Harpole 1 108.70x
Hemel Hempstead 1 9.97x
Hillesden 1 416.67x
Holy Trinity Less London 1 121.95x
Kingswinford 1 2.53x
Lambeth 1 0.36x
Leamington 1 18.52x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.15x
Llanrhydd 1 104.17x
Mayfield 1 73.53x
Millbrook 1 6.00x
Mortlake 1 14.27x
Newport 1 8.98x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 6.47x
Orlingbury 1 322.58x
Oxford St Martin 1 303.03x
Paddington London 1 0.84x
Putney 1 6.79x
Sawtry All Sts 1 133.33x
Stoke Newington London 1 3.98x
Sulgrave 1 196.08x
Wellingborough 1 6.55x
West Derby 1 0.89x
Westminster St Margaret 1 6.42x
Wigginton 1 344.83x
Wroxton 1 136.99x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
George 11
John 11
Thomas 11
Charles 9
Frederick 9
Henry 9
Arthur 7
Richard 5
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Andrew 1
David 1
Frances 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Iral 1
Leonard 1
Reuben 1
Sarah 1
Shadrack 1
Simeon 1
Simon 1
Sydney 1
Tho. 1
Thos. 1
Tone 1
Wilm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Knibb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Knibb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 332 people were recorded with the Knibb surname. That placed it at #9,058 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Knibb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 404 in 2016. That gives Knibb a modern rank of #11,793.

What does the Knibb surname mean?

An English surname representing an occupational name for a maker of knives.

What does the Knibb map show?

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