UK surname
An occupational surname for one who once possessed great wisdom or knowledge.
In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Know surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #28,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hoo or St Werburgh, Stoke and St James (Isle of Grain). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Know is 104 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.0%.
1881 census count
33
Ranked #28,965
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1891
104 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Know surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Know surname density by area, 1891 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 55 | #27,007 |
| 1881 | historical | 33 | #28,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 62 | #26,622 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hoo or St Werburgh, Stoke, St James (Isle of Grain), St Mary Islington and London parishes. 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 | Hoo or St Werburgh | Kent |
| 2 | Stoke | Kent |
| 3 | St James (Isle of Grain) | Kent |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Know 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 Know, 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 Know surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Know 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, Know 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 Know is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Know, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname KNOW is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'cnawan', meaning 'to know' or 'to recognize'. The name was likely originally a nickname for someone who was particularly knowledgeable or wise.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname KNOW can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1182, where a person named William Cnowe is mentioned. This spelling variation of the name suggests that it was pronounced differently in those times.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various records across England, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John Knowe. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also include a reference to a Richard Knowe.
During the 14th century, the name KNOW began to spread across different regions of England. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332, a Thomas Knowe is recorded. The Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 list a John Knowe.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname KNOW was Sir John Knowe (c. 1350 - 1417), a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of King Henry IV. Another was Thomas Knowe (c. 1460 - 1527), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1501 until his death.
In the 16th century, the name KNOW was found in various parts of England, including in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire, which mention a William Knowe in 1543. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1568 also include a reference to a John Knowe.
One notable bearer of the surname KNOW from this period was Sir Francis Knowe (1548 - 1622), an English courtier and diplomat who served as the Ambassador to France under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.
The 17th century saw the name KNOW spread further across England, with records such as the Hearth Tax Returns of Lincolnshire from 1674 listing a William Knowe. The Parish Registers of St. Peter's Church in Berkshire from 1689 also mention a Thomas Knowe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Know 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. Kent leads with 16 Knows recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.58x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 16 | 14.58x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 2.80x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 10.45x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.52x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 9 Knows recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 9 | 28.86x |
| St James Isle Of Grain | 9 | 30000.00x |
| Cowpen | 4 | 363.64x |
| Hoo | 4 | 2666.67x |
| Stoke | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Blackburn | 2 | 19.70x |
| North Shields | 1 | 104.17x |
| Shildon | 1 | 129.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Know surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Know 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 Know households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Cattle Drover | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Agricultural Laborrer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labour | 1 |
| Coal Banksman | 1 |
| Farm Laborrer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardener Wife | 1 |
| Laborrer Wife | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Silver Smith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Know surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Know a modern rank of #35,887.
An occupational surname for one who once possessed great wisdom or knowledge.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Know 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.