UK surname
A surname derived from the word "knot," potentially referring to someone with a skill in knot-tying or a related occupation.
In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Knot surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #17,429 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Newcastle All Saints and Dunton with Millo. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knot is 155 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.0%.
1881 census count
124
Ranked #17,429
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1891
155 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Knot surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Knot surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 122 | #14,966 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 124 | #17,429 |
| 1891 | historical | 155 | #17,920 |
| 1901 | historical | 79 | #25,363 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Newcastle All Saints, Dunton with Millo, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 3 | Dunton with Millo | Bedfordshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Knot surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Knot, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Knot surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Knot household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Knot is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Knot is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Knot, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Knot originated in England, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cnotta," which means "a knot" or "a knotted cord." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to those who worked with ropes, cords, or knots, such as sailors, fishermen, or rope-makers.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there are references to individuals with the surname Knot, including William Knot and Robert Knot. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also mention a John Knot. These early records indicate that the name was established in various parts of England by the 14th century.
The Knot surname is found in various place names throughout England, such as Knottingley in West Yorkshire, which was originally recorded as "Cnotingeleia" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This further suggests the ancient roots of the name and its connection to knots or knotted cords.
One notable individual with the surname Knot was Edward Knott (1582-1655), an English Jesuit priest and controversialist. He was known for his writings defending the Catholic faith during the English Reformation.
Another prominent figure was Robert Knott (1599-1679), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for St Germans in Cornwall during the 17th century.
In the 18th century, John Knott (1736-1811) was a respected English surgeon and medical writer. He served as the President of the Royal College of Surgeons in London and published several works on surgical techniques.
Sir James Knott (1858-1931) was a notable British engineer and industrialist. He played a significant role in the development of the British shipbuilding industry and was knighted for his contributions.
Lastly, Cargill Gilston Knott (1856-1922) was a Scottish physicist and mathematician. He made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetism and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1892.
These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence of the Knot surname in various fields, from religion and politics to medicine, engineering, and academia, further solidifying its historical significance in England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knot surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 30 Knots recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 30 | 2.12x |
| Middlesex | 18 | 1.51x |
| Kent | 15 | 3.69x |
| Norfolk | 12 | 6.56x |
| Midlothian | 9 | 5.65x |
| Durham | 7 | 1.98x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.52x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 1.04x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.75x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 1.95x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.81x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.82x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.13x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.17x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.84x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.74x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.28x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.43x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.43x |
| Kinross-shire | 1 | 33.22x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.69x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.17x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.50x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 13 Knots recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.13x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Knot surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Margaret | 5 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Rosina | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ezabet | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Katharine | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Mercy | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Knot surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Knot households.
FAQ
In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Knot surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Knot a modern rank of #36,254.
A surname derived from the word "knot," potentially referring to someone with a skill in knot-tying or a related occupation.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Knot bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.